China Urges United States Not to Disparage Cuba's Relations

China today called on the United States to refrain from disparaging relations between other countries and reiterated its support for defending Cuba's sovereignty against external interference.

Responding to a question from Prensa Latina, the Spokesperson's Office of the Chinese Foreign Ministry noted that Beijing has repeatedly stated its firm position on matters related to the island.

The office called on Washington to withdraw its sanctions and blockade measures against the Caribbean nation as soon as possible and to stop repeatedly disparaging other countries.

It underscored that cooperation between China and Cuba is open and legitimate, and rejected accusations made against those ties.

It also stated that Beijing will continue to firmly support Havana in defending its national sovereignty and in opposing external interference.

As part of its hostile policy of harassment toward Cuba, the United States announced new sanctions last week against five state entities and eight officials of the Caribbean nation.

According to the State Department's statement, the new measures target companies and officials linked to the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces over alleged arms imports and military cooperation with Russia and China.

The sanctions freeze any property or financial interests of those designated under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit U.S. individuals and companies from conducting transactions with them.

Washington also warned that foreign banks and companies doing business with the sanctioned parties could be exposed to similar measures.

Among the designated officials are Cuban Armed Forces Minister Álvaro López Miera; Chief of Staff Roberto Legrá Sotolongo; the ministry's head of Foreign Relations, José Antonio Remón Rodríguez; and its economic director, Oscar Enrique Biosca Gallego, it was reported.

The new sanctions are also directed against Cuba's military attachés in Russia, Mónica Milián Gómez, and in China, Waldo Pérez Cortés, along with other officials.