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China rejects US claims on Cuba, accuses Washington of ‘slander’ and double standards

By The South Asia Times

BEIJING - China has dismissed US allegations regarding Cuba and defended its ties with the island nation, while also accusing Washington of spreading misinformation on regional issues, Lin Jian said on Wednesday.

Responding to remarks by Marco Rubio that Cuba was allowing US rivals to conduct intelligence activities near American territory, Lin said cooperation between China and Cuba is “aboveboard” and legitimate, according to state-run Global Times.

He criticized the United States for what he described as “fabricating excuses” to justify its long-standing blockade and sanctions against Cuba, saying such measures violate Havana’s right to development and breach international norms. Beijing reiterated its support for Cuba’s sovereignty and called on Washington to end “all forms of coercion and pressure.”

Separately, Lin rejected a joint statement issued by the US and several Latin American countries accusing China of politicizing maritime trade in relation to the Panama Canal. He described the claims as “completely fabricated” and accused Washington of distorting facts.

“Who has long occupied the Panama Canal and undermined Panama’s sovereignty? The answer is self-evident,” Lin said, arguing that it is the US that is politicizing and securitizing port issues while spreading “rumors and slander.”

The remarks reflect growing tensions between Beijing and Washington over geopolitical influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, as both powers trade accusations over security, trade, and regional sovereignty