China Reaffirms 'Ironclad' Support for Cuba Amid U.S. Pressure, Vows to Oppose 'External Interference'

BEIJING, Feb 5 – China has pledged firm backing for Cuba against what it termed "unwarranted external interference," during a visit by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez to Beijing this week. The talks come at a sensitive time, with Washington tightening economic pressure on Havana and strategic competition between the U.S. and China deepening across Latin America.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a meeting on Thursday, assured his counterpart of China's "ironclad" support for Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security. "We oppose any interference in Cuba's internal affairs," Wang stated, according to a readout from China's foreign ministry. He emphasized China's willingness to provide "support and assistance to the best of our ability," citing the "complex and profound changes" reshaping the Latin American region.

The show of solidarity follows renewed U.S. actions against Cuba, including recent moves to restrict oil shipments to the island nation. While neither Chinese official directly named the United States in the official summaries, the context of escalating U.S.-Cuba friction was unmistakable. The visit also coincides with broader U.S.-China rivalry in the Western Hemisphere, where both powers are vying for influence over trade routes and infrastructure, including ports near strategic corridors like the Panama Canal.

In a separate meeting on Wednesday, Liu Haixing, a senior official of the Chinese Communist Party's International Department, underscored the ideological bond between the two one-party states. "Although we are on different continents, our hearts have always been closely connected," Liu told Rodríguez. He added that China firmly supports Cuba "in opposing foreign interference and blockade."

Background & Analysis: China's vocal support reinforces its long-standing partnership with Cuba, a relationship rooted in shared socialist ideology and opposition to U.S. hegemony. For Beijing, Cuba represents a strategic foothold in America's backyard. The reaffirmed alliance signals to Washington that China will actively counter U.S. pressure campaigns against its partners, potentially complicating U.S. policy objectives in the region. This diplomatic maneuver is part of China's broader pattern of strengthening ties with Latin American nations facing U.S. sanctions, such as Venezuela.

Reactions & Commentary

Dr. Elena Marquez, Professor of Latin American Studies at Universidad Nacional: "This is a calculated diplomatic reinforcement. China is positioning itself as the reliable alternative partner for nations under U.S. pressure. It's less about ideology now and more about geopolitical signaling and securing long-term economic access."

James Kellerman, former U.S. State Department official: "Beijing's rhetoric is predictable but significant. It directly challenges the U.S. maximum-pressure strategy. The real test will be the scale and substance of the economic 'assistance' China actually provides to offset the impact of U.S. sanctions."

Carlos Fuentes, journalist and author based in Mexico City: "Empty solidarity! The Cuban people continue to struggle daily while two distant powers use the island as a pawn in their cold war. These statements do nothing to put food on tables or medicine in clinics. It's grandstanding at the expense of real people."

Li Wei, research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies: "China's stance is consistent and principled. It is about respecting the fundamental norms of international relations—non-interference and sovereignty. The U.S. policy of isolation is an anachronism that only fosters instability."