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The first shipment of the donation of 60,000 tons of rice offered by China has already left for Cuba, amid the severe food crisis facing the island.
The Cuban Embassy in China reported on the social media platform X that the initial shipment "sets sail for Cuba," emphasizing the aid as a demonstration of "solidarity" from the Chinese government and assuring that "Cuba is not alone."
The delivery is part of a assistance package approved in January by President Xi Jinping, which also includes a financial aid of 80 million dollars intended —according to the official version— for the purchase of electrical equipment and to address "urgent needs."
The announcement was conveyed to Miguel Díaz-Canel by the Chinese ambassador in Havana, Hua Xin, following high-level contacts between both governments, during which the seriousness of the economic crisis and the deterioration of the Cuban electric power system were acknowledged.
Help amid scarcity
The arrival of rice comes at a particularly critical moment. This staple food in the Cuban diet has become increasingly scarce, and when it does appear on the market, it is often sold at prices that are unaffordable for a significant portion of the population.
Although the official narrative attributes the crisis to the U.S. embargo, the current situation also reflects years of structural inefficiency, a decline in domestic production, and an increasing dependence on imports and external donations.
The shipment from China once again highlights the level of vulnerability of the Cuban economy, where even essential products like rice are increasingly reliant on international aid.
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