China–Cuba relations

Cuban–Chinese 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 colony 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 recognised the PRC in September 1960.

Sino-Cuban relations
Map indicating locations of Cuba and China

Cuba
China
Zhou Enlai greeting Che Guevara in February 1965. This is the second time that Che Guevara visited China, the first time being November 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 have respect for each other's sovereign internal affairs and as a result experience good mutual relations such as being members of the Belt and Road Initiative for trade. China has partnered with Cuba to upgrade the rail network and other initiatives.

Commerce
Che Guevara visiting China in 1965. To his left (on the right in the photo) is Deng Xiaoping.

Bilateral trade between China and Cuba in 2005 totaled US$777 million, of which US$560 million were Chinese exports to Cuba.[2] 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. Some large-scale transactions include:

Transportation

As of mid-2006, Cuba had purchased 100 locomotives from China for US$130 million.[3][4]

As of early 2006, Cuba had signed a contract for 1,000 Chinese buses for urban and inter-provincial transportation.[5]

Refrigerators

The Cuban government is replacing older appliances with newer, more energy-efficient models, including (as of early 2006) 30,000 Chinese refrigerators.[6]

Renewable energy

China has been a key partner in the development of Cuba's domestic solar panel production.[7]: 118  It has provided Cuba with training, technology, and extended credit to Cuba to assist in this process.[7]: 118 

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.[8]

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.[9] 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,[10] but had done no off-shore drilling as of mid-2008.[9]

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;[11] 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.[12] Two manufacturing plants using Cuban technology and processes, were operating in China as of early 2006.[13] 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.[7]: 143  When China made its first monoclonal antibodies, it did so with Cuban technology.[7]: 143 

Political and military relations

In 1912, the Cuban government established relations with the Beiyang government of the Republic of China in Peking. This continued with Nationalist government in Nanking and Taipei after losing most of its territory. Both countries were allies in both World War II and the Korean War. From September 1960, post-revolutionary Cuba shifted recognition to the People's Republic of China.

In 1979 and the following years, Cuba has sided with Vietnam and strongly opposed China in the Sino-Vietnamese War, a part of the larger Sino-Soviet split.[14]

In the late 1990s, China provided the Cuban government with equipment to block signals from Radio Martí.[15]

General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Hu Jintao visited Cuba in November 2004,[16] and followed by his successor, Xi Jinping, in July 2014.[17]

Chinese personnel have been operating two intelligence signal stations in Cuba since early 1999.[18] Bejucal hosts a signals intelligence listening station operated by the People's Liberation Army Third Department of the Joint Staff Department.[19][20][21]

Cuba was one of 53 countries, that in June 2020, backed the Hong Kong national security law at the United Nations.[22]

Other areas of cooperation
China-Cuba Friendship Primary School Sanlihe Campus (三里河校区)
  • In 2004, China opened a local Confucius Institute in Havana.
  • Scientific and technical exchange and innovation in the industrial and agriculture sectors[23]
  • Cultural exchanges[24]
  • Medical, education and training exchanges[25]
  • Energy and transport infrastructure

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References
  1. Marc Frank, "Trade With China Primes Cuba's Engine for Change" Archived 2006-05-13 at the Wayback Machine, The Financial Times, 29 March 2006
  2. "Trade with China helps Cuba to move up a gear," Financial Times, March 8, 2006
  3. Fidel Castro Public Address, May 1, 2006, cited in "China Cuba ties report from Cuba Transition Project" Archived 2019-05-11 at the Wayback Machine, Havana Journal, June 2, 2006
  4. “12 Chinese locomotives arrive in Cuba,” People’s Daily, January 10, 2006
  5. "Cuba to buy more vehicles from China," Granma Internacional, February 17, 2006
  6. "Entrega empresa china primer lote de refrigeradores para Cuba," Granma Internacional, March 15, 2006
  7. Yaffe, Helen (2020). We Are Cuba! How a Revolutionary People Have Survived in a Post-Soviet World (hardcover ed.). USA: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-23003-1.
  8. "China edges out Western investors in Cuba nickel," Reuters, November 23, 2004
  9. Erika Bolstad and Kevin G. Hall, "GOP claim about Chinese oil drilling off Cuba is untrue" Archived 2009-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, McClatchy Newspapers, June 11, 2008
  10. "Firman Cuba y China contrato para producción compartida de petróleo," Granma Internacional, January 31, 2005
  11. "PetroChina Great Wall Drilling Co. wins contracts in Cuba", China Chemical Reporter, November 26, 2005
  12. “Pacto biotecnológico de Cuba y China,” Office of Cuba Broadcasting, December 29, 2005, cited in "China Cuba ties report from Cuba Transition Project" Archived 2019-05-11 at the Wayback Machine, Havana Journal, June 2, 2006
  13. "Cuban and Chinese Biotech have found pathways of mutual benefits" Archived 2008-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, press release, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Havana, Cuba, January 20, 2006, retrieved June 13, 2008
  14. DeYoung, Karen (1979-02-24). "Aroused Cuba Vows Support In Hanoi Fight". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  15. "Those Men in Havana Are Now Chinese". The Wall Street Journal. 1999-07-30. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  16. "China's Hu boosts Cuba ties in first visit," Reuters, November 22, 2004
  17. "When China met Cuba: Xi Jinping visits Havana," euronews, July 23, 2014
  18. "China's electronic spy bases in Cuba" Archived 2008-01-26 at the Wayback Machine, China Reform Monitor, No. 487, March 3, 2003, American Foreign Policy Council
  19. "America and China try to move past a new bump in relations". The Economist. June 9, 2023. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  20. Sherwood, Dave; Spetalnick, Matt (2023-06-14). "Does secretive Cuba base host Chinese spy station? US thinks so". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
  21. Gámez Torres, Nora (June 8, 2023). "In bold move challenging the United States, Cuba agrees to host a Chinese spy base". Miami Herald. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  22. Lawler, Dave (2 July 2020). "The 53 countries supporting China's crackdown on Hong Kong". Axios. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  23. "China and Cuba to Advance Cooperation in Agriculture | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  24. "China in Cuba Cultural Exchange". Havana Times.org. 2013-06-22. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  25. "Chinese doctors among 10,500 graduating in Cuba - Xinhua | English.news.cn". News.xinhuanet.com. 2013-06-28. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  26. Embassy of China in Havana
  27. Embassy of Cuba in Beijing

Further reading
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