BEIJING: China’s foreign minister Wang Yi vowed to support Havana and confront “power politics and bullying” during talks with his Cuban counterpart in New York, state media reported Wednesday, as the Caribbean island faces mounting pressure from the United States. Cuba is suffering under a US energy blockade, and President Donald Trump has openly mused about taking over the country. China has close ties to the communist state and has promised to donate 60,000 tons of rice to help Cuba deal with shortages, the first batch of which arrived on Sunday.

Chinese support includes rice shipments and diplomatic backing as Trump administration ramps up sanctions and rhetoric.

Cuba received a tranche of humanitarian aid from China this week as people there experience severe hunger due to food shortages and economic crisis. It comes as the Trump…

BEIJING: China’s foreign minister Wang Yi vowed to support Havana and confront “power politics and bullying” during talks with his Cuban counterpart in New York, state media…