Miguel Díaz-Canel congratulated the government and people of China this Monday on the arrival of the Lunar New Year, but his message ended up provoking a flood of criticism and mockery on social media.
In a video and several tweets, the ruler conveyed “on behalf of the Party, the Government, and the Cuban people” his wishes for “happiness, health, and prosperity” to the “beloved and brotherly Chinese people.”
Additionally, he assured that in the new "Year of the Fire Horse," both countries will continue to advance "in the defense of the socialist cause" and in building a "community of shared future between China and Cuba."
The Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations in China and other Asian nations, governed by the lunar calendar and associated each year with an animal from the Chinese zodiac. On the diplomatic front, it is often an opportunity to strengthen political and economic alliances.
However, on Facebook, the post received over 300 comments within a few hours, many of which expressed discontent. Several users questioned how the leader can speak of "prosperity" while the country is experiencing blackouts, inflation, and shortages of food and medicine.
"Please let in this new lunar year the dictators leave Cuba and our people be free," wrote a user. Another commented, "And when are we going to have a happy year?" There were also those who mocked the message: "That's a meme haha," "This is too much already," or "This is AI, right?"
Other Cubans directly called out the situation within the country. “Do you know the prices of food on the street?” asked one user, while another demanded, “What you need to do is ensure that the people of Cuba are free to choose their future.”
The contrast between the official discourse on strategic cooperation with China and the daily reality in the Island was once again highlighted in the comments, where many Cubans took advantage of the diplomatic greeting to express their frustration over the crisis the country is facing.
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