Cuba defiant and China angry after US adds new sanctions to crippling blockade

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CUBA vowed to “firmly defend its national independence and sovereignty” today after the United States imposed yet more sanctions on the besieged island.

Even as senior Republicans blamed US aggression against Iran for their humiliation at the mid-terms, Secretary of State Marco Rubio intensified the illegal blockade of Cuba, imposing new sanctions on Cuban companies involved in energy and electronics and on companies in third countries it says are trading with Cuba.

Two of the eight firms targeted are Chinese — the China National Electronic Import and Export Company and Beijing H&C Technologies.

China is assisting Cuba in building solar power infrastructure to counteract the US energy blockade.

The US has cut off all oil imports since January, with the exception of one Russian tanker which arrived in March, though in a bullish defence of his latest sanctions Mr Rubio claimed the resulting “blackouts, shortages and stagnant economy” were the result of “Cuba’s ruling elite… hoarding the island’s energy, shipping and technology resources.”

Chinese aid includes direct donations of thousands of solar voltaic systems by the government. Cuban authorities announced the installation of solar power at another 55 pumping stations in Santiago this week to prevent disruption to the water supply, part of a nationwide rollout of alternative energy.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said China rejects “US interference in and disruption of China-Cuba co-operation, firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and opposing external interference, and will take all necessary measures to resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises.”

China has passed legislation beginning with the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of 2021, significantly strengthened this year, exposing firms which comply with unilateral foreign sanctions to legal action in China.

The US’s pursuit of companies around the world for breaching its own sanctions has no basis in international law. Last week, the United Nations voted 130-17 to condemn the US blockade of Cuba, the 34th consecutive year it has done this.

Besides China, companies based in Panama and Cyprus were targeted in the latest sanctions round.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said US pressure would cause huge suffering, but “the attempt to force Cuba to surrender will continue to fail.”

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