China–Cuba relations
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China–Cuba relations are the interstate relations between the People's Republic of China and Republic of Cuba. The origins of the relations began when the Qing dynasty established a consulate in Havana while Cuba was a still a Captaincy General of Spain in 1879. In 1902, the Qing dynasty recognized the independence of the Republic of Cuba from the United States, which had taken it from Spain in 1898. Cuba recognized the PRC in September 1960.
The relations are based on trade, credits, and investments, which have increased significantly since the 1990s. China is Cuba's second-largest trading partner after Venezuela. At a ceremonial trade gathering in Havana in early 2006, China's ambassador to Cuba said, "Our government has a firm position to develop trade co-operation between our countries. The policy, the orientation, has been determined. What's left is the work to complete our plans."[1] Although both Cuba and China are ruled by a communist party, they were on different sides during the Cold War, with Cuba being an ally of the Soviet Union, which China usually opposed following the Sino-Soviet Split.
China and Cuba experience good mutual relations, including through being members of the Belt and Road Initiative. China has partnered with Cuba to upgrade the rail network, host military facilities, and other initiatives.
Political and military relations
In 1912, the Cuban government established relations with the Beiyang government of the Republic of China in Peking.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". This continued with Nationalist government in Nanking and Taipei after losing most of its territory. Both countries were allies in World War II. In 1960, post-revolutionary Cuba shifted recognition to the People's Republic of China.[2]Template:Rp It was the first Latin American country to recognize the PRC.[2]Template:Rp
The relationship between Cuba and China deteriorated during the Sino-Soviet split, in part because Cuba valued its need for Soviet oil more than its need for Chinese rice.[2]Template:Rp In 1979 and the following years, Cuba supported Vietnam in the Sino-Vietnamese War.[3]
Tensions between Cuba and China remained until the late 1980s.[2]Template:Rp In the late 1980s, Cuba's relationship with the Soviet Union became strained.[2]Template:Rp After the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, international relations were hampered.[2]Template:Rp A series of Cuban-Chinese state visits followed and relations improved.[2]Template:Rp
In the late 1990s, China provided the Cuban government with equipment to block signals from Radio Martí.[4] Chinese personnel have been operating two intelligence signal stations in Cuba since early 1999.[5] Bejucal hosts a signals intelligence listening station operated by the People's Liberation Army Third Department of the Joint Staff Department.[6][7][8][9] Other listening stations have been reported in Wajay and El Salao, Santiago de Cuba.[10]
General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Hu Jintao visited Cuba in November 2004,[11] and followed by his successor, Xi Jinping, in July 2014.[12]
Cuba was one of 53 countries that, in June 2020, backed the Hong Kong national security law at the United Nations.[13]
In 2023, China and Cuba signed a bilateral cybersecurity agreement designed to prevent political subversion.[14] China subsequently invested US$100 million in Cuban cybersecurity.[14]
Commerce
After Cuba's 1960 recognition of the People's Republic of China, China became a major rice exporter to Cuba.[2]Template:Rp In 1966 during the Sino-Soviet Split, China reduced its rice export quota to Cuba.[2]Template:Rp The move increased diplomatic tensions, with Fidel Castro describing Mao Zedong as a senile idiot.[2]Template:Rp
As relations improved, China provided Cuba with interest-free credit for it to import home appliances in the early 2000s.[2]Template:Rp The two countries then established a joint venture for the assembly of household electronics in Havana.[2]Template:Rp
Bilateral trade between China and Cuba in 2005 totaled US$777 million, of which US$560 million were Chinese exports to Cuba.[15] Bilateral trade between China and Cuba in 2014 totaled US$1.6 billion. China is sending a growing amount of durable goods to Cuba. Chinese goods have become the primary tools both in the planned revitalization of Cuban transport infrastructure and in the Energy Revolution of 2006 to provide electricity to the Cuban population.
In 2010, China became Cuba's second-largest trading partner.[2]Template:Rp
Transportation
As of mid-2006, Cuba had purchased 100 locomotives from China for US$130 million.[16][17]
As of early 2006, Cuba had signed a contract for 1,000 Chinese buses for urban and inter-provincial transportation.[18]
Refrigerators
The Cuban government is replacing older appliances with newer, more energy-efficient models, including (as of early 2006) 30,000 Chinese refrigerators.[19]
Renewable energy
China has been a key partner in the development of Cuba's domestic solar panel production.[20]Template:Rp It has provided Cuba with training, technology, and extended credit to Cuba to assist in this process.[20]Template:Rp
Investments
Nickel
As of 2004, China had agreed to planning to invest US$500 million in the completion and operation of Las Camariocas, an unfinished processing facility from the Soviet era. Under the agreement, Cubaníquel, the state-run nickel producer, owns 51 percent and Chinese-government owned Minmetals Corporation owns 49 percent. Financing for the project is from the China Development Bank, with Sinosure, the Chinese Export and Credit Insurance Corporation, providing guarantees.[21]
Oil
SINOPEC, the Chinese state oil company, has an agreement with state-owned CUPET (Cuba Petroleum) to develop oil resources. As of mid-2008, SINOPEC had done some seismic testing for oil resources on the island of Cuba, but no drilling.[22] The company also has a contract for joint production in one of Cuba's offshore areas of high potential yield, off the coast of Pinar del Río,[23] but had done no off-shore drilling as of mid-2008.[22]
In November 2005, PetroChina Great Wall Drilling Co., Ltd. and CUPET held a ceremony for the signing of two drilling service contracts, to provide di;[24] Great Wall Drilling has provided drilling rigs for oil exploration on Cuba's north coast.
Biotechnology
In December 2005, the two countries signed an agreement to develop biotech joint ventures within the next three to five years.[25] Two manufacturing plants using Cuban technology and processes, were operating in China as of early 2006.[26] As of 2020, Cuba's Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) had two joint ventures with China and its Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM) has three.[20]Template:Rp When China made its first monoclonal antibodies, it did so with Cuban technology.[20]Template:Rp
Other areas of cooperation
- In 2004, China opened a local Confucius Institute in Havana.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Scientific and technical exchange and innovation in the industrial and agriculture sectors[27]
- Cultural exchanges[28]
- Medical, education and training exchanges[29]
Resident diplomatic missions
- China has an embassy in Havana.[30]
- Cuba has an embassy in Beijing and consulates-general in Guangzhou and Shanghai.[31]
See also
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- Caribbean–China relations
- Sino-Latin America relations
- Chinese Cubans
- Belt and Road Initiative
- Foreign relations of Cuba
- Foreign relations of China
References
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- ↑ Marc Frank, "Trade With China Primes Cuba's Engine for Change" Template:Webarchive, The Financial Times, 29 March 2006
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ "China's electronic spy bases in Cuba" Template:Webarchive, China Reform Monitor, No. 487, March 3, 2003, American Foreign Policy Council
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- ↑ "China's Hu boosts Cuba ties in first visit," Reuters, November 22, 2004
- ↑ "When China met Cuba: Xi Jinping visits Havana," euronews, July 23, 2014
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ "Trade with China helps Cuba to move up a gear," Financial Times, March 8, 2006
- ↑ Fidel Castro Public Address, May 1, 2006, cited in "China Cuba ties report from Cuba Transition Project" Template:Webarchive, Havana Journal, June 2, 2006
- ↑ “12 Chinese locomotives arrive in Cuba,” People’s Daily, January 10, 2006
- ↑ "Cuba to buy more vehicles from China," Granma Internacional, February 17, 2006
- ↑ "Entrega empresa china primer lote de refrigeradores para Cuba," Granma Internacional, March 15, 2006
- ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ "China edges out Western investors in Cuba nickel," Reuters, November 23, 2004
- ↑ a b Erika Bolstad and Kevin G. Hall, "GOP claim about Chinese oil drilling off Cuba is untrue" Template:Webarchive, McClatchy Newspapers, June 11, 2008
- ↑ "Firman Cuba y China contrato para producción compartida de petróleo," Granma Internacional, January 31, 2005
- ↑ "PetroChina Great Wall Drilling Co. wins contracts in Cuba" Template:Webarchive, China Chemical Reporter, November 26, 2005
- ↑ “Pacto biotecnológico de Cuba y China,” Office of Cuba Broadcasting, December 29, 2005, cited in "China Cuba ties report from Cuba Transition Project" Template:Webarchive, Havana Journal, June 2, 2006
- ↑ "Cuban and Chinese Biotech have found pathways of mutual benefits" Template:Webarchive, press release, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba, January 20, 2006, retrieved June 13, 2008
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Further reading
- Jiang Zemin, The Future of Socialism Remains as Bright as Ever, Excerpt from remarks to Fidel Castro (Selected Works, Vol I, p. 327-330)
- Hearn, Adrian H. (2012), China, Global Governance and the Future of Cuba, in: Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, 41, 1, 155–179.
- Hearn, Adrian H. Cuba and China: Lessons and Opportunities for the United States Commissioned report for the CubaInfo Series; The Cuban Research Institute, Florida International University, June 2009
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