At a June 25 briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun responded after the US State Department sanctioned five companies and one individual for allegedly generating revenue for the Cuban government. Cuban Foreign Minister Rodriguez accused Secretary of State Rubio of tightening an economic encirclement and collective punishment and said Cuba's economy was stronger and more efficient than expected. Guo said China opposes illegal unilateral sanctions lacking an international-law basis, urged

At a June 25 briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun responded after the US State Department sanctioned five companies and one individual for allegedly generating revenue for the Cuban government. Cuban Foreign Minister Rodriguez accused Secretary of State Rubio of tightening an economic encirclement and collective punishment and said Cuba's economy was stronger and more efficient than expected. Guo said China opposes illegal unilateral sanctions lacking an international-law basis, urged the US to immediately end its blockade and any coercive pressure, and called on Washington to stop infringing Cubans' rights to subsistence and development. He said China firmly supports Cuba's chosen socialist development path and its efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and security and rejects external interference.