"When the street lights come on Havana stroll, it's the most beautiful duo dance in the world
Colorful classic cars swaying with palms, eloping aimlessly with the sea breeze."
Jay Chou's song "Mojito" brings people to Cuba, an island nation in the northern Caribbean.
"Too far from God, too close to the United States", perhaps no country can appreciate the helplessness of this sentence better than Cuba. Cuba, located just 90 nautical miles from the U.S. state of Florida, has been under economic blockade by the United States for nearly 60 years.
Last year, due to the impact of the new crown epidemic, the Cuban economy suffered a heavy blow to tourism and medical treatment, and the foreign exchange income from the export of international tourists and doctors was greatly reduced, shrinking by 11% in 2020.
Under the double impact of US sanctions and the epidemic, the Cuban economy has been "updated" and accelerated, and the private economy has ushered in a "loosening". What is more concerned by the outside world is that on April 16-19, the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba was held, and raúl Castro, now 89, announced at the meeting that he would officially step down as the party's top leader. The new generation of leaders born after the revolution, Díaz-Canel, will become cuba's supreme leader.
On the stage that affected the national fortunes, the Castro brothers, who had stood in front of the magnesium lamp for a long time, gradually turned to the background, dragging down the meaningful reflection. Where will the only socialist country in the Western Hemisphere go?
Not the "post-Castro era", but the "neocastro era"
The castro brothers' names have influenced Cuba for more than 60 years.
Fidel Castro is known as the "Father of the Nation of Cuba". In 1956 Fidel led the Cuban Revolution, which overthrew the Batista regime. He began a 49-year reign until July 2006, when Fidel transferred the supreme leadership of the Cuban party, government, and military leadership to his brother Raúl Castro due to illness, and formally stepped down as president of the Cuban Council of State the following year.
In April 2011, Raúl was elected first secretary of the Central Committee at the Sixth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, officially succeeding his brother as the supreme leader of Cuba and beginning to promote the economic revitalization of Cuba.
After 10 years, raúl's commitments during his tenure have limited the term of office of leaders to a maximum of two consecutive terms of office for 5 years. This year, the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba was held, and Raúl officially stepped down.
"Raúl has fulfilled his promise," Xu Shicheng, a member of the Honorary Faculty of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Shenzhen Satellite TV & Direct News, "This shows that the Cuban party and government have smoothly and smoothly completed the replacement of new and old leaders, which will ensure the continuation of the Cuban revolution and socialist cause, which is of profound significance to the socialist movement in Cuba and the world." ”
Amid concerns from the outside world, Cuba's new leader, Díaz Canel, appeared.
In fact, on April 18, 2018, the 58-year-old Canel was elected chairman of the new Council of State. On October 10, 2019, President Xi Jinping sent a telegram to Raúl Castro, First Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, and Cuba's newly elected President Díaz-Canel, congratulating Cuba on the successful convening of the Special Session of the Ninth National People's Power Congress and the election of the President.
For a smooth transition to the regime, Raúl continues to serve as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Cuban Party until 2021.
Raúl endorsed Canel at the Eighth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, saying that "a new group of party leaders represent the continuation of the Cuban revolution and are full of confidence in the future of the country." Christopher Sabatini, an expert at the American Council on Foreign Relations, once analyzed, "Choosing another successor not only means breaking the name of the Castro brothers, but also breaking Raul's will." Therefore, Carnell, who has been Raúl's assistant for many years, is undoubtedly the best candidate.
As a new generation that grew up after the victory of the Cuban Revolution, Canel, who started from the Communist Youth League of Cuba, has similarities with the Castro brothers who joined the youth league very early. In 2003, Canel became Cuba's youngest member of the Politburo, and in 2013, he became Cuba's deputy head of state, the "egg under the red flag" that was pushed to the front by the old revolution.
Raul is old, but the country is still inseparable from him. Carnell has repeatedly said that he will listen to Raúl's opinion on major decisions. Raúl also said that after stepping down as the first secretary of the CPC Central Committee, he will not hold any position in the party's leading body, but as a revolutionary fighter, he will continue to contribute to the party until the end of his life.
After all, the country has been deeply imprinted on the Castro brothers. "Even if Raúl leaves office, the Castro color of the Cuban regime will not fade." Zhang Jieyu, an intern researcher at the Institute of Latin American and Caribbean Studies of the China Institute of International Studies, told Shenzhen Satellite TV & Direct News that the so-called "post-Castro era" is itself guided by the West, and Cuban domestic public opinion more describes it as the "new Castro era".
However, Zhang Jieyu believes that the new leader Canel will leave his "son of the revolution" color, which is different from the style of the Castro brothers. Canel himself is more approachable and open to digital technology, and in 18 years, under The Impetus of Canel, Cuba opened a 3G network for the first time.
Sino-Cuban friendship will not change
At today's regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a foreign media reporter asked whether Raúl's resignation from office will have an impact on Sino-Cuban relations.
Spokesman Wang Wenbin said that the convening of the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba "has great significance in carrying forward the past and opening up the future," describing Raul Castro as an outstanding leader of the Communist Party of Cuba and Socialism in Cuba, "deeply supported and loved by the Cuban people, and also deeply respected by the Chinese people."
Wang Wenbin stressed: The Chinese party and government attach great importance to the relations between the two parties and two countries in China and Cuba, and the CPC Central Committee has sent a telegram to congratulate the Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba. At this important historical moment when the Communist Party of Cuba is carrying forward the past and forging ahead, we are willing to work with the Cuban side to continue to carry forward the tradition of sino-Cuban friendship, strengthen political mutual trust, deepen strategic communication, constantly enrich and enrich the connotation and achievements of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries, and jointly promote the continuous achievements of the cause of socialism between China and Cuba.
Shenzhen Satellite TV & Direct News reporters combed and found that in the face of western interference in internal affairs through human rights issues, China and Cuba gave each other firm support.
In December last year, Pompeo, the US Embassy in Cuba and others pressed Cuba on the grounds of so-called human rights issues, and used this as a premise for exchanges with Cuba. Wang Wenbin said that China has always believed that the US side should respect Cuba's sovereignty and independence, stop the blockade and sanctions against Cuba, and stop interfering in Cuba's internal affairs. China firmly opposes the politicization of human rights issues and double standards, as well as the use of human rights as a pretext for groundless accusations and gross interference in the internal affairs of other countries.
In March this year, the Fourth Session of the 13th National People's Congress adopted the Decision of the National People's Congress on Improving the Electoral System in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by a large number of votes. The United Kingdom, the European Union, etc. are pointing fingers at this. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla pushed for China on Twitter, saying cuba opposes foreign interference in China's internal affairs, especially in Hong Kong affairs.
In addition, At the 46th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Cuba made a joint statement on behalf of 64 countries, urging relevant parties to stop making politically motivated and unreasonable accusations against China.
"Whenever the West attacks us the hardest, Cuba always stands up for us." Xu Shicheng pointed out that the smooth replacement of the Cuban Communist Party will not affect the development of Sino-Cuban relations. It is believed that under the leadership of their respective leaders in the future, the relations between China and Cuba as "good brothers, good comrades, and good partners" will continue.
Biden took office and ignored Cuba for the time being
The United States embargo against Cuba has always been a dark cloud on Cuba's economic development.
Even after the outbreak of covid-19, the United States has not eased its embargo on Cuba. In a country with a per capita monthly income of about $37, life is getting harder and harder for its people.
In January, with only nine days left for Mr. Trump, Pompeo announced that cuba would be re-added to the list of countries that support terrorism. Carlos Alzugai, a former Cuban diplomat and expert on Cuba and the United States, believes that the purpose of the united States' increased sanctions is to prevent all kinds of resources from entering Cuba, including financial resources, and to cut off all sources of funds needed for Cuba's economic development, even those needed by individual citizens. It also prevents the entry of oil into Cuba and prevents it from importing energy, with the aim of stifling the Cuban economy and inflicting economic hardship on the Cuban people, thereby taking to the streets to overthrow the Government.
Late last month, hundreds of Cubans marched in the capital, Havana, demanding an end to the nearly 60-year U.S. blockade against Cuba.
Cuban Foreign Minister Rodríguez said in an interview with the media at the event site that the US blockade against Cuba is immoral, violates international law, and highlights its genocidal nature, especially under the new crown epidemic.
At the Eighth Congress of the Communist Party of Cuba, Raúl expressed his willingness to "engage in a dialogue of mutual respect" with the United States and to form a new form of relations with the United States, which does not intend to force Cuba to abandon the principles of revolution and socialism.
However, the White House said on the 16th that the adjustment of Cuba policy is not the top priority of President Biden's foreign policy.
"The U.S.-Cuba relationship, which is worth looking forward to, will still face obstacles." Zhang Jieyu analyzed that Biden said during the campaign that he would reverse the attitude of the Trump era to the ancient limit pressure. For now, biden may not be in a hurry to launch a policy toward Cuba, but it will reshape the U.S.-Cuba relationship in the future. The "sonic attack" suffered by the US Embassy in Cuba and Cuba's support for Venezuela will be unfavorable factors affecting US-Cuban relations.
Author: Tang Ping, a reporter in Beijing for Shenzhen Satellite TV Direct News.