Full Breakdown
China Calls for End to U.S. Blockade on Cuba and Respect for Gulf Sovereignty at UN
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Han did not name the United States, but his remarks directly referenced the U.S. pressure campaign that has restricted oil shipments to Cuba and heightened tensions over the Gulf region.
Background & Context
- The United States has maintained an oil blockade against Cuba since January, limiting fuel imports and contributing to repeated blackouts on the island.
- The U.S. “war on Iran” began with U.S.–Israeli strikes in February, a conflict that has intensified scrutiny of Chinese involvement in the region.
- China and Cuba have maintained diplomatic relations for 66 years, a partnership the Chinese foreign ministry describes as a “community with a shared future.”
Data & Statistics
- Cuba’s electrical grid collapsed earlier this month, leaving millions without power, according to Reuters.
- The Cuban power system has long suffered from fuel shortages and aging infrastructure, conditions worsened by the U.S. blockade.
Official Statements & Responses
- He added that “communism will never be coming to America, but freedom will be coming to Cuba.”
- The U.S. ambassador to China reported that Trump warned Chinese leader Xi Jinping against supporting Iran, receiving assurances that China would not provide such support.
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed China’s call, urging Washington to end the “siege” of Cuba and remove the island from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Over the 66 years since China and Cuba established diplomatic relations, the friendship between the two countries has been passed down from generation to generation. In recent years, under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the building of a China-Cuba community with a shared future has continued to deepen and become more substantive,” — Guo Jiakun, the spokesman, at a press conference in Beijing
- “I would say that Cuba and the U.S. will make a deal,” — Donald Trump, president
- “Communism will never be coming to America, but freedom will be coming to Cuba,” — Donald Trump, president
- “We have great Cuban Americans that want to go back. We want to open Cuba up to our people,” — Donald Trump, president
Why It Matters
Han’s speech highlights a growing diplomatic rift between Beijing and Washington over Middle-East security and the Caribbean blockade. By framing the issue as one of sovereign rights and international law, China positions itself as a defender of developing nations, potentially reshaping alliances in both regions. The U.S. administration’s public commitment to negotiate a “deal” with Cuba signals a willingness to alter the longstanding embargo, but the contrasting rhetoric at the UN underscores divergent strategic priorities.
What's Next
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reported to be in negotiations with Cuban officials, though no timeline has been disclosed. China’s stance at the UN suggests it will continue to advocate for the removal of U.S. sanctions on Cuba in future multilateral forums.
