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The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, Guo Jiakun, urged Washington on Tuesday to immediately lift the embargo, sanctions, and any form of coercive pressure against Cuba.
In a press conference, Guo stated that "many countries and people from different sectors in the United States" are calling for an end to the embargo and that Washington must "listen to these just calls."
China reiterated its readiness to provide support and assistance to Cuba against what it described as "repeated threats" from the United States, and expressed its willingness to work with all parties to support the island in defending its sovereignty and national security.
The statements from Beijing come two days after the presidents of Spain, Mexico, and Brazil issued a joint statement from the IV Summit for the Defense of Democracy in Barcelona, where they expressed their deep concern for the severe humanitarian crisis affecting the Cuban people and committed to intensifying coordinated humanitarian aid to the island.
The Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was the most emphatic in closing that summit last Saturday, directly demanding an end to this blockade.
The Cuban Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez thanked on Monday for that support, denouncing the intensification of the U.S. blockade to extreme levels.
Trump's Maximum Pressure on Cuba
The backdrop of this diplomatic escalation is the maximum pressure that the Trump administration has exerted on Cuba since January 2026. On January 29, Trump signed Executive Order 14380, declaring a national emergency due to the alleged unusual and extraordinary threat posed by the Cuban government, and imposing tariffs of up to 50% on third countries that supplied oil to the island.
On February 20, a new executive order eliminated the mechanism for oil tariffs on third parties, although it extended for one year the authority to inspect vessels bound for Cuba.
On March 30, Trump allowed the arrival of the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin carrying between 700,000 and 730,000 barrels, lifting the oil blockade, although the general sanctions on the island remain in effect.
Trump also reinstated Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism on the day of his inauguration and indefinitely suspended Western Union transfers to the island in February 2026.
China, a constant player on the Cuban stage
China is not a new player on this stage. The spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, had already made similar statements at the beginning of April 2026.
On January 28, Beijing condemned Washington's coercive policies which, it stated, deprive Cubans of their right to development.
China's stance, along with that of several Latin American and European governments, contrasts sharply with the maximum pressure approach maintained by Washington, whose administration has ruled out any easing until the regime in Havana makes substantial political changes.
Trump summarized his position on March 30 with a blunt statement: "Cuba is finished".
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