China says US ‘invented’ terrorism charges to justify Cuba blockade

China accused the United States of using “invented allegations” to justify its terrorism case against Cuba, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio told senators he needed no new evidence to tie the island to violent leftist groups across the western hemisphere.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday that Washington could not justify its blockade and sanctions against the island, adding that the decades-old embargo had wrecked Cuba’s economy.

“China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security and rejecting external interference. The US side should heed the call of the international community and immediately stop all its blockade, sanctions, coercion and pressure against Cuba,” she said.

On Thursday from the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump said Washington wanted the Caribbean island to become “a nicely run country that can feed its people”.

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Trump vows to ‘take’ Cuba as island reels from total power cut linked to oil embargo

Asked whether the sanctions were meant to hasten that collapse, Trump said he would turn to Cuba once the US had dealt with Iran, promising to “make a little brief stop” on the way back.