China Urges US to End Blockade and Sanctions Against Cuba

Istanbul - China on Monday repeated its call for the United States to end its blockade and sanctions against Cuba. “Beijing urges the United States to immediately halt the blockade, sanctions, and all forms of pressure and coercion against Cuba,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters. Mao added that China “will continue to do whatever it can to provide assistance to Cuba.” The statement comes after US President Donald Trump stated that Cuba would be the next target for military operations following Iran. “Cuba will be next,” Trump told reporters en route to Washington. Trump’s comments come as the US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran enter their second month. The airstrikes on Iran since late February have killed more than 1,400 people, including the then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets. At least 13 US soldiers have been killed and hundreds more injured, in addition to damage to US military assets in the Middle East, in the ongoing conflict.