Cuba receives China rice shipment amid US threats, blackouts

Cuba received 15,000 tons of donated rice from China at the port of Havana, part of a larger pledge of 60,000 tons. The shipment is intended to reduce acute food shortages across Cuba, including access for consumers in multiple provinces and for health and education institutions. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel described the delivery as solidarity that strengthens friendship and cooperation with China. Chinese ambassador Hua Xin said the rice deliveries are the largest food aid from China to Cuba in recent years. Cuba continues to face severe energy disruptions, with up to 64% of the island expected to experience simultaneous blackouts, including outages lasting 22 hours or more in Havana. The economic crisis is further intensified by US oil embargo pressure and the halt of Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba.

"Cuba took delivery of 15,000 tons of rice donated by China on Sunday when the first of several promised shipments arrived at the port of Havana, helping to somewhat alleviate acute shortages on the Caribbean island. "This noble gesture of solidarity will reach millions of consumers throughout all the provinces, in addition to our health and education institutions," Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel wrote on social media. "The heartfelt ties of friendship and cooperation that unite [Cuba and China] are strengthened in crucial moments," he said."

"Chinese ambassador Hua Xin said on Cuban television that the deliveries represent "the largest food aid" from China to Cuba "in recent years." The shipment is the first batch of 60,000 tons of rice that Beijing has pledged to help combat a dire economic situation in the communist country which has only been exacerbated since the United States toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January and halted exports of oil from Venezuela to Cuba."

"On Sunday, up to 64% of Cuba was set to be subjected to simultaneous blackouts, according to data from the state-run Electric Union (UNE) compiled by the Spanish EFE news agency. The Cuban government has recently acknowledged that the island's energy situation is "acute," "critical," and "extremely tense," with some blackouts in the capital Havana lasting 22 hours or more. Last week, a record was set when 70% of Cuban territory was simultaneously without power during the moment of highest energy consumption."

"This week, the impact of these outages has fluctuated between 58% and 65% of the island. The Havana government has called the current US oil embargo which has been i"

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