China Opposes US Sanctions on Cuba, Criticizing Washington as 'Hegemonic'
- China voiced opposition to US sanctions on Cuba
- Beijing criticized Washington's approach as 'hegemonism'
- It shows China's diplomatic jockeying with the US over Latin America
- Cuba becomes one arena of US-China geopolitical rivalry
- Reuters reported the US-China diplomatic clash
China publicly opposing US sanctions on Cuba and branding Washington 'hegemonic' ostensibly speaks for Cuba but is really a move extending US-China rivalry into America's Latin American 'backyard.' By backing states at odds with the US, China crafts an 'against unilateral sanctions' narrative to court the Global South.
It echoes the recent globalization and bloc-formation of US-China competition: the arena is no longer just the Indo-Pacific but Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Small as it is, Cuba carries high symbolism next to the US. For US-aligned economies like Japan and Taiwan, understanding how China contests US influence worldwide is essential. As great-power rivalry pressures more small states to pick sides, how much room to stay neutral remains?