ISTANBUL / ANKARA

China on Tuesday said it "firmly" opposes the US sanctions on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other officials on the pretext of human rights violations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that Beijing "firmly opposes the US using the so-called human rights pretext to impose unilateral sanctions and interfere in Cuba's internal affairs."

He was commenting on US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement about sanctions on the Cuban president, Armed Forces Minister Gen. Alvaro Lopez Miera, and Interior Minister Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas.

"The US has maintained a comprehensive blockade and illegal sanctions against Cuba for over 60 years, causing severe suffering to the Cuban people. Sanctions should be lifted immediately, rather than intensified," Lin said.

He said that China firmly supports Cuba in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions and in safeguarding its sovereignty and dignity.

Lin urged the US to "immediately" lift the blockade and sanctions against Cuba and to remove the country from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

“I would like to emphasize that if the US truly cares about human rights, it should reflect on its own human rights violations in Guantanamo and around the world over the years,” he further said.

Regarding a media inquiry about US President Donald Trump's remarks that Washington would impose 100% tariffs on Russia unless an agreement was reached between Moscow and Kyiv within 50 days, Lin said that Beijing "always believes that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way to resolve the Ukraine crisis."

“China firmly opposes any illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction. There are no winners in a tariff war, and coercion and pressure cannot solve problems,” Lin said.

His remarks came after US Senator Lindsey Graham threatened a 500% tariff on some countries, including China, if they continue to trade with Russia.

“It’s hoped all parties will further foster an environment and accumulate conditions to advance the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and take more actions that are conducive to peace talks,” Lin added.

Separately, Lin added that China opposes “the politicization, instrumentalization, and weaponization of science and technology and economic and trade issues.”

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Tuesday said that the US approved Nvidia's export license and Nvidia will start selling H20 chips to the Chinese market, according to CNBC News.

*Writing by Aamir Latif