China says US ‘invented’ terrorism charges to justify Cuba blockade

Lead

China has accused the United States of using "invented allegations" to justify its terrorism case against Cuba, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told senators he needed no new evidence to tie the island to violent leftist groups across the western hemisphere. The accusation, delivered by Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, came as Washington escalates pressure on Havana through sanctions, indictments, and public statements from President Donald Trump.

Coverage Comparison

Two major outlets — the South China Morning Post and The Hindu — have covered the story, both emphasizing China's support for Cuba against perceived U.S. aggression. The SCMP focused on China's direct accusation that the U.S. fabricated terrorism charges, quoting Mao Ning's statement that Washington "could not justify its blockade and sanctions against the island" and that the decades-old embargo had "wrecked Cuba's economy." The Hindu's coverage centered on Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's meeting with his Cuban counterpart in New York, highlighting Beijing's pledge to "uphold justice and speak out on Cuba's behalf."

Both sources frame the situation as one of U.S. pressure on Cuba, with China positioning itself as a defender of Cuban sovereignty. The Hindu adds context on the U.S. energy blockade and the indictment of former Cuban President Raul Castro, while the SCMP includes President Trump's comments about wanting Cuba to become a "nicely run country" and his promise to "make a little brief stop" in Cuba after dealing with Iran.

Key Claims

The following claims have been reported across the two articles:

• China's accusation of invented allegations: Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the U.S. used "invented allegations" to justify its terrorism case against Cuba. This is a direct quote from both sources, though the specific wording appears only in the SCMP report.

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement: According to the SCMP, Rubio told senators he needed no new evidence to tie Cuba to violent leftist groups. This is a single-source report and has not been independently confirmed by the other article.

• China's rice donation: The Hindu reports that China promised to donate 60,000 tons of rice to help Cuba deal with shortages, with the first batch arriving on May 24. This is a specific figure and timeline not mentioned in the SCMP article.

• President Trump's comments on Cuba: Both sources quote Trump saying he wants Cuba to become "a nicely run country that can feed its people." The SCMP adds that Trump said he would turn to Cuba once the U.S. had dealt with Iran, promising to "make a little brief stop" on the way back. The Hindu characterizes Trump as having "openly mused about taking over the country."

• Indictment of Raul Castro: The Hindu reports that the U.S. indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro over the downing of two civilian U.S. planes in 1996. This detail is not included in the SCMP article.

• U.S. energy blockade: The Hindu describes Cuba as "suffering under a U.S. energy blockade" and notes that the Trump administration cut off Cuba's oil supply from Venezuela after ousting Nicolas Maduro in January. This context is absent from the SCMP piece.

Perspectives

China's stance, as presented by both sources, is one of firm solidarity with Cuba. Wang Yi told Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla that China will "continue to uphold justice and speak out on Cuba's behalf," and that Beijing opposes "all forms of power politics and bullying." This language, likely referring to the U.S., underscores Beijing's broader geopolitical positioning as a counterweight to Washington.

The U.S. perspective, as depicted in the articles, is that the sanctions and pressure are part of a policy aimed at improving Cuba's governance. Trump's comments about wanting Cuba to become "a nicely run country" suggest a rationale of encouraging reform, though the specific mechanisms — terrorism designations, indictments, and energy blockades — are not explained in detail in either article.

Observers may note a divergence in emphasis: the SCMP gives prominence to China's direct accusation of "invented allegations," while The Hindu places greater weight on China's material support (the rice donation) and the broader context of U.S. actions (including the indictment of Raul Castro). Neither source provides a detailed U.S. defense of its policies beyond Trump's general remarks.

The timeline of events — the meeting between Wang Yi and his Cuban counterpart in New York, the indictment, and the rice donation — suggests the current confrontation has been building over several weeks. As of this writing, no further developments have been reported.

Conclusion

China's accusation that the U.S. fabricated terrorism charges against Cuba marks a sharp rhetorical escalation in the ongoing dispute. With Beijing pledging tangible support — including a substantial rice donation — and Washington signaling continued pressure, the situation remains tense. The reported comments from President Trump about "taking" Cuba and the indictment of Raul Castro add further complexity to an already strained relationship between the U.S. and the communist-led island nation.