China urges US to halt coercion against Cuba after Raúl Castro indictment

China has formally called on the United States to cease its use of coercion and threats against Cuba, following the indictment of former leader Raúl Castro on murder charges. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that Beijing firmly supports Havana and opposes external interference, urging Washington to stop using sanctions and the judicial system as instruments of political pressure.

The charges against the 94-year-old former president relate to the 1996 downing of two aircraft by Cuban forces, an incident that resulted in the deaths of four people. Castro, who served as head of the country’s armed forces at the time, was charged alongside five others with conspiracy to kill US nationals. The aircraft were operated by the Cuban-American dissident group Brothers to the Rescue and were carrying three US citizens when they were shot down.

Guo Jiakun explicitly stated that the United States should cease using sanctions and the judicial apparatus as tools of coercion against Cuba. He added that Beijing opposes any attempt by external forces to exert pressure on the island under any pretext, emphasising that China resolutely supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and dignity.

This diplomatic exchange occurs against a backdrop of intensifying US pressure on the Cuban regime. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on officials in Cuba’s energy, defence, financial, and security sectors, as well as individuals alleged to have committed human rights abuses. The US Treasury has also sanctioned Cuba’s intelligence agency and senior Communist Party officials.

Reports indicate that the United States has imposed a blockade on oil supplies to Cuba, a move that has contributed to blackouts and food shortages on the island. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has described the charges against Castro as a political manoeuvre devoid of legal foundation, while warning of a bloodbath should the US launch an attack.

Tensions have further escalated following reports that Cuba acquired over 300 military drones from Russia and Iran. Since the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has openly discussed the possibility of toppling the Cuban regime, stating that Cuba is ready to fall. China’s support for Havana has deepened since President Xi Jinping’s 2014 visit, with Cuba joining the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018 to fund strategic infrastructure projects.