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US indicts Raúl Castro over 1996 plane downing
China has demanded the United States halt what it calls coercive tactics against Cuba after Washington charged former Cuban leader Raúl Castro with murder. A US court accused the 94-year-old of conspiring to kill American citizens in the 1996 shootdown of two aircraft, an incident that left four people dead and deepened tensions between the two nations.
Charges stem from decades-old dispute
On Wednesday, a US court indicted Castro and five others for their alleged roles in downing two planes operated by the Cuban-American dissident group Brothers to the Rescue. The aircraft were flying between Cuba and Florida when they were struck, killing three US citizens. At the time, Castro served as head of Cuba's armed forces, a position he held until stepping down as president in 2018.
The incident has long fueled animosity among Cuban exiles in the US and remains a contentious issue between Washington and Havana.
Cuba dismisses charges as politically motivated
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the indictment as a "political maneuver without legal merit." The Cuban government has consistently denied responsibility for the 1996 attack, framing the charges as an attempt to destabilize its leadership.
China backs Cuba, criticizes US tactics
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun condemned the US actions, accusing Washington of using "sanctions and judicial tools as instruments of coercion." Guo urged the US to "stop threatening force" and respect Cuba's sovereignty.
"China firmly supports Cuba in defending its national sovereignty and dignity and opposes any external interference,"
Guo Jiakun, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman
US escalates pressure on Havana
The charges against Castro come as the Trump administration intensifies its campaign against Cuba. Recent measures include new sanctions targeting Cuba's energy, defense, and financial sectors, as well as an oil blockade that has triggered blackouts and food shortages on the island.
President Trump has publicly suggested Cuba is "ready to fall," following the US capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges.
China strengthens ties with Cuba
Beijing has deepened its relationship with Havana in recent years, particularly after President Xi Jinping's 2014 visit to the island. In 2018, Cuba joined China's Belt and Road Initiative, which has funded key infrastructure projects across the country.
