Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun reaffirmed on Wednesday, May 13, that Beijing’s position on Cuba and Venezuela remains unchanged, when asked whether the issues would be discussed at the meeting between President Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, who arrived in Beijing this afternoon for a two-day summit.
“China’s position on the issue of Cuba is consistent, clear, and unchanged. On the issue of Venezuela, China’s position is equally consistent,” Guo stated during the ministry’s press conference.
The response came in the context of intense US pressure on both countries. Four months ago, the United States carried out military attacks against Venezuela, resulting in more than 100 deaths and culminating in the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. Regarding Cuba, Washington has intensified unilateral sanctions against the island in recent months, expanding restrictions on energy, finance, and state entities.
The position reiterated this Wednesday is not new. On May 7, spokesperson Lin Jian had also stated that China “firmly opposes” the US attacks against Venezuela and “will continue to support Venezuela in defending its sovereignty, dignity, and legitimate rights.” In the same press conference, Lin described the sanctions against Cuba as a serious violation of international law and demanded that Washington “immediately end the blockade, sanctions, and any form of coercion and pressure against the country.”
Chinese support for Cuba is not merely rhetoric. Since January, Beijing has sent 60,000 tons of rice, USD 80 million in emergency aid, and photovoltaic equipment destined for hospitals and communities affected by the blackouts. With Chinese financing and technology, Cuba has incorporated more than 1,000 megawatts of solar energy in the last year.
Regarding Venezuela, Beijing also reacted to the licenses issued by the US Treasury Department in April, which partially unblocked the Venezuelan banking system but maintained the ban on transactions with Chinese companies.
“China has always rejected unilateral sanctions without a basis in international law,” Guo Jiakun said at the time, demanding that China’s legitimate rights and interests in Venezuela “be guaranteed without conditions.”
Trump arrives in Beijing for summit with Xi Jinping.
US President Donald Trump landed in Beijing around 7:30 pm (Beijing time) on Wednesday for a two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The visit, initially scheduled for the end of March, was postponed due to the unprovoked military aggression by the United States and Israel against Iran.
First published by Brasil de Fato in Portuguese.
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