At a June 25 briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun responded after the
US State Department sanctioned five companies and one individual for allegedly
generating revenue for the Cuban government. Cuban Foreign Minister Rodriguez
accused Secretary of State Rubio of tightening an economic encirclement and
collective punishment and said Cuba's economy was stronger and more efficient
than expected. Guo said China opposes illegal unilateral sanctions lacking an
international-law basis, urged the US to immediately end its blockade and any
coercive pressure, and called on Washington to stop infringing Cubans' rights to
subsistence and development. He said China firmly supports Cuba's chosen
socialist development path and its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and
security and rejects external interference.
