‘Comrade Raul’: Beijing defends Cuba’s ex-leader over Florida murder warrant
China on Wednesday condemned an arrest warrant issued in the US state of Florida for former Cuban president Raul Castro over the 1996 downing of two civilian planes, accusing the United States of using the courts to pressure Havana. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning was asked about the warrant by the state-run Global Times at a regular briefing in Beijing. She referred to the 95-year-old as…
China has harshly criticized a Florida arrest warrant issued for former Cuban president Raul Castro, accusing the United States of attempting to pressure Havana through judicial means. The 95-year-old ex-leader, referred to by China as "comrade Raul Castro," is alleged to be responsible for the 1996 downing of two civilian planes operated by Brothers to the Rescue, a Miami-based exile group.
The incident resulted in the deaths of all four individuals on board, including three US citizens. Beijing maintains that Cuba acted in defense of national sovereignty and rejects the "abuse of judicial measures to pressure Cuba," calling on the US to cease its blockade and any other form of coercion against the island nation.
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