Beijing says opposes US ‘sabotage’ of Cuba-China relations

BEIJING: On Friday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesman denounced fresh United States sanctions against Cuba, alleging they aimed to undermine Chinese ties with the Caribbean nation. The latest round of penalties, announced by the State Department on Thursday, target Cuba's oil and electronics industries. For the first time, two Chinese corporations were implicated, accused of providing military-grade electronics and security equipment to Havana.

China's Foreign Ministry vehemently opposed the sanctions, calling them unlawful and indicative of the U.S. practice of "long-arm jurisdiction." Spokesman Guo Jiakun asserted that Beijing would take all necessary steps to protect its businesses from the U.S. interference. Since January, Washington has imposed a series of crippling sanctions and an oil blockade on Cuba, plunging its economy into turmoil and sparking widespread power outages and shortages.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly hinted at a possible military intervention to topple Cuba's ruling Communist Party, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has urged Cubans to cooperate with American intelligence agencies. The sanctions announced on Thursday also extended to China's state-owned China National Electronic Import-Export Company and private firm Beijing H&C Technologies.

Notably, the list included Any Rodriguez Lastres, the daughter of the head of Cuba's largest military-controlled business conglomerate, Grupo de Administracion Empresarial SA (GAESA).