China's Vice President Han Zheng challenged the United States at the UN General Assembly, calling for the sovereignty of Gulf nations to be respected and urging an end to the US blockade on Cuba. He did not name the US directly, but the remarks come days after Washington hosted Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng used his address to the UN General Assembly on Saturday to push back against the United States without naming it, urging the "relevant country" to stop threatening Cuba and lift its blockade on the island. He also said the sovereignty and security of countries in the Middle East, including the Gulf, should be respected, an apparent reference to the US war on Iran that started with US-Israeli strikes in February.
The comments stood in sharp contrast to the bonhomie on display earlier this week at the White House, where President Donald Trump feted Xi Jinping with military flyovers and a state dinner. According to Reuters: "Major countries should have special responsibilities for safeguarding international peace and security", Han said, adding that they should lead in upholding rule of law and doing what is right.
Trump warned Xi against providing support to Iran during the Washington talks and received assurances that China would not do so, the US ambassador to China said on Friday. The warning followed reports that Beijing had supplied Iran with shoulder-fired air-defense missile launchers and that Tehran had found ways to evade sanctions on its oil sales with Chinese help.
On Cuba, Han urged the "relevant country" to immediately stop threatening the island with force and to lift the blockade and sanctions against it. Cuba's electrical grid suffered a total collapse earlier this month, plunging the nation into darkness as the US presses its blockade. Han closed by portraying China as a defender of developing nations, saying all countries, big or small, are equal members of the international community.
Source: Investing.com (Reuters)
Trading involves risk.
Risk Disclaimer
