Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi offered limited support to Cuba on Thursday during a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez in Beijing, following President Donald Trump’s executive order designating the Cuban Communist Party as a national security threat.
Wang told Rodríguez that China would support Cuba “to the best of our ability,” a statement that stopped short of promising concrete financial or political assistance. The cautious language stood out given China’s position as the world’s second-largest economy.
Cuba has endured decades of economic hardship, shortages, and human rights abuses under its communist government, which has ruled since Fidel Castro seized power in 1959. After the United States cut off most commercial ties with the regime, Cuba relied heavily on foreign tourism and support from allies such as the Soviet Union, Venezuela, and sympathetic governments in Europe and Canada.
That support has weakened in recent months following the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in January on narco-terrorism charges. President Trump subsequently announced cooperation with Maduro’s successor to revitalize Venezuela’s oil industry, effectively ending Cuba’s access to heavily subsidized Venezuelan oil.
In a Truth Social post on January 11, Trump warned that Cuba would no longer receive financial or energy support.
“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO!” Trump wrote.
In response to mounting pressure, the Cuban government has sought help from longtime allies, including China. Rodríguez’s visit to Beijing was part of that effort.
Chinese officials stated that Beijing supports Cuba in opposing “foreign interference,” but offered no public commitments. When asked about the meeting, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson declined to provide further details.
Independent Cuban outlet 14 y Medio described China’s response as “tepid,” noting the absence of meaningful action. The outlet also highlighted Beijing’s silence following Maduro’s arrest, despite previously close ties.
Cuba has depended on Venezuela for decades, especially since the rise of socialist leader Hugo Chávez in 1999. In exchange for discounted oil, Cuba provided security assistance and political support. Reports have linked Cuban operatives to repression and intelligence activities within Venezuela.
Following Maduro’s arrest, Havana declared vague “war readiness” measures and escalated rhetoric against the United States. State media published hostile commentary, and government-backed groups staged protests against U.S. diplomats.
On January 30, President Trump formally declared a national emergency related to the Cuban regime.
“The President is addressing the depredations of the communist Cuban regime,” the order stated, citing terrorism, regional instability, and threats to U.S. security.
The executive order allows sanctions on third countries that assist Cuba, particularly those helping supply oil. China’s state-run Global Times criticized the move as “neocolonial,” but offered no indication that Beijing would intervene.
As Cuba faces shrinking foreign support and deepening economic crisis, China’s restrained response suggests that even longtime allies may be unwilling to provide significant assistance under growing U.S. pressure.
