China pledges resolute support for Cuba against US pressure
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
China's foreign ministry stated on Wednesday that it will "resolutely support" Cuba against ongoing threats from the United States. This declaration follows Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel's recent call for dialogue with Washington. Cuba has been experiencing an energy crisis since January, when US forces captured then-Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, impacting Havana's primary oil supply. Last week, Diaz-Canel affirmed he would not resign under US pressure and sought dialogue. China's foreign ministry reiterated Beijing's support for the island, with spokesman Guo Jiakun stating, "China firmly opposes coercive diplomacy and will resolutely support Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and opposing foreign interference." Beijing and Havana share a long-standing alliance, and Chinese authorities have consistently opposed the decades-long US trade embargo on Cuba. Tensions escalated in January when US President Donald Trump warned that Cuba "is ready to fall" and should make a deal or face consequences. Despite this, the United States permitted a Russian tanker carrying crude oil to unload in Cuba in late March, and Russia announced it would send a second oil shipment to Cuba this month.
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