Related videos:
The Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel published a message expressing gratitude for the arrival at the port of Havana of 15,000 tons of rice donated by China, but the post ended up generating an avalanche of criticism and questioning from Cubans inside and outside the island.
Díaz-Canel presented the shipment as part of "the strong political will to jointly build the Community of Shared Future Cuba-China" and assured that the donation will benefit millions of consumers across all provinces of the country. The message was accompanied by images of the sacks of rice being unloaded at the dock.
However, many of the responses were marked by citizens' discomfort over the increasing reliance on foreign donations to cover basic food products.
"And where is sovereignty?" questioned one of the most shared comments on the post.
Other users pointed directly to the country's economic deterioration and the failure of national production: "After more than 60 years of revolution, Cuba has to rely on rice donations to feed its people."
One of the main concerns reflected in the publication was the fear that the rice would not actually reach the population and would end up being resold in dollar stores or designated for hotels and state entities.
"China gives it away and Cuba sells it," summarized one of the comments that received the most reactions.
Another internet user directly warned the president: "Remember, president, that it is a donation; it cannot be sold to the population."
Many users also made their own calculations about the actual reach of the aid. According to various comments, the 15,000 tons would amount to approximately three pounds per person among the nearly 9.6 million inhabitants of the country, assuming the distribution were equitable.
There were also reports of delays in previous deliveries of donated rice. Some comments pointed out that shipments promised months ago had still not arrived in provinces like Holguín.
The energy crisis also emerged as a backdrop to the discussion. "Rice doesn't generate power; what we need is tons of oil," wrote a user in reference to the daily blackouts affecting much of the country.
Others directly questioned the system's inability to ensure agricultural production on an island historically known for rice cultivation: “How is it possible that after 67 years we still have to rely on donations in a country where rice is grown without problems?” wrote another commenter.
Messages were also repeated that hold the state economic model responsible for the food crisis: “The real blockade is the internal one imposed by yourselves,” noted another user.
The shipment received this Saturday is part of a total donation of 60,000 tons of rice that China will gradually send to Cuba, approved by Xi Jinping in January 2026 along with financial assistance for the Cuban electrical system.
Currently, domestic production covers only a small portion of internal demand. Official data indicates that Cuba relies almost entirely on imports to supply one of the essential foods in the national diet.
"67 years after 1959, there is no rice for the people," summarized another comment that encapsulated the prevailing tone in the Cuban leader's statement.
Filed under: