China has voiced strong support for Cuba after the United States indicted former Cuban leader Raul Castro on murder-related charges tied to a 1996 incident involving the downing of two civilian aircraft. The charges, announced by the US on Wednesday, May 20, have intensified speculation that President Donald Trump could seek tougher action against the communist-led Caribbean nation.
Responding to the development on Thursday, May 21, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun criticised Washington’s actions and urged the US government to halt what he described as political and judicial pressure on Cuba.
“The US side should stop brandishing the sanctions stick and the judicial stick against Cuba and stop threatening force at every turn,” Guo told reporters during a press briefing. China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and national dignity and opposes external interference,” he added.
Castro, 94, is the younger brother of late Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, who led the country’s 1959 communist revolution and remained one of America’s most prominent geopolitical adversaries for decades.
US prosecutors accused Raul Castro over the 1996 shooting down of two civilian aircraft flown by anti-Castro activists, an incident that killed four people. In addition to murder-related allegations, the former Cuban president was charged with conspiracy to kill Americans and destruction of aircraft.
Trump described the indictment as a “very big moment” but appeared to downplay the possibility of immediate action against Cuba, whose economy has faced mounting pressure in recent months amid a worsening crisis linked to a US oil blockade.