China has called on Washington to halt its “coercion” and “threats” directed at its ally, Cuba, after an American court indicted former leader of Cuba, Raúl Castro on murder charges.
The 94-year-old ex-president faces accusations of conspiring to kill US nationals linked to the 1996 downing of two planes, an event that resulted in four fatalities and intensified diplomatic strains between the United States and the Caribbean nation.
US President Donald Trump has consistently aimed to apply pressure on Cuba, openly advocating for the overthrow of its communist government.
On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, stated that the US should “stop threatening force at every opportunity,” reaffirming Beijing’s “strong support for Cuba.”
Castro was charged on Wednesday, along with five others, for their roles in the shooting down of two aircraft operated by the Cuban-American dissident group Brothers to the Rescue, which were en route from Cuba to Florida three decades ago.
The incident resulted in the deaths of three US citizens. At that time, Castro was leading the country’s armed forces and had stepped down as president in 2018.
The event has long been a point of contention among Cuban exiles in the US and remains a source of diplomatic friction between Washington and Havana.
Current Cuban President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, denounced the charges as “a political maneuver without any legal basis.”
China’s Foreign Ministery’s, a steadfast ally of Cuba, expressed opposition to “any attempts by outside forces to exert pressure on Cuba under any pretext.”
Guo emphasized, “The United States should stop using sanctions and judicial measures as tools of coercion against Cuba and refrain from making threats of force at every opportunity. China firmly supports Cuba in protecting its national sovereignty and dignity and opposes external interference.”
This development occurs as the White House escalates its pressure on Cuba. The US has implemented new sanctions and a blockade on oil shipments to the island, leading to widespread blackouts and food shortages.
Earlier this month, President Trump signed an executive order targeting officials in Cuba’s energy, defense, financial, and security sectors, as well as individuals accused of human rights violations or misappropriating public assets.
Following the capture of former Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, in January, who faces trial in the US on charges of narco-terrorism and drug trafficking, President Trump has suggested that Cuba is “on the brink of collapse.”
Since President Xi Jinping’s visit to Cuba in 2014, relations between China and Cuba have strengthened.
In 2018, Cuba joined China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has financed various key infrastructure projects on the island.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong