China pushed back against the United States over Iran and Cuba during its speech at the UN General Assembly on Saturday, calling for respect of sovereignty in the Gulf and an end to the US blockade on Cuba.
Vice President Han Zheng did not name the US in his remarks but clearly addressed Washington’s policies. He said the “relevant country” must stop threatening Cuba and immediately lift sanctions and the blockade. The US has imposed a pressure campaign on Cuba that has largely blocked oil shipments to the island, worsening its ongoing energy crisis.
Han also insisted that the sovereignty and security of countries in the Middle East, including those in the Gulf, must be respected. This came amid US pressure on Iran, which began with US and Israeli strikes in February and continued with warnings to China not to support Tehran. The US ambassador to China confirmed on Friday that President Donald Trump warned Chinese leader Xi Jinping against providing support to Iran during talks in Washington.
Reports suggest Beijing has supplied Iran with shoulder-fired air-defense missile launchers and helped Tehran evade sanctions on its oil sales, though Han avoided direct mention of these claims in his speech.
Han said, “Major countries should have special responsibilities for safeguarding international peace and security, and they should take the lead in complying with the rules, upholding rule of law, and doing what’s right.” He added that “all countries, big or small, are equal members of the international community, and that world affairs should be handled by all through consultation.”
The Chinese speech contrasted sharply with the atmosphere earlier in the week at the White House, where Trump hosted Xi Jinping with military flyovers and a lavish state dinner. Yet, behind the scenes, tensions over Iran and Cuba remain high.
On Cuba, Han’s call to end the blockade comes after the island’s electrical grid collapsed earlier this month, plunging the country into darkness and leaving millions without power. The collapse followed years of strain on Cuba’s aging power system, worsened by fuel shortages and the US-imposed oil blockade that began in January.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed China’s stance hours later at the UN, urging Washington to lift its “siege” of Cuba and relax trade restrictions. Lavrov also called for Cuba to be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The US blockade has intensified Cuba’s energy crisis, with the electrical grid suffering frequent failures and blackouts due to limited fuel supplies. The Cuban government has struggled to maintain power generation amid these conditions.
Han’s speech also aimed to position China as a reliable partner and defender of developing countries on the global stage. He emphasized respect for sovereignty and international law, contrasting with what he implied were actions by some major powers.
This show of defiance from China comes as the US maintains its tough stance on Iran and Cuba, signaling ongoing friction between the two powers at the UN despite recent diplomatic courtesies between their leaders.
According to Joy Online.
