China Delivers Massive Food Shipment To Cuba In A Challenge To The United States.

Havana; May 2026: A Chinese cargo ship – Sunny Hong has arrived in Havana on the 23rd of this month (May 2026) with thousands of tons of rice to support the population. This is the first part of a large food shipment that Beijing promised to deliver to the island’s communist government, despite the United States blockade.

The vessel arrived carrying 15,000 tons of rice from China. The ship had left Qingdao on April 01, and transited the Panama Canal on May 08th, but has largely been dark since then despite declaring it was bound for Cuba. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel called the shipment in a social media posting a “noble gesture of solidarity”.

Cuba’s Minister of Interior Trade, Betsy Diaz Velazquez, said it was greatly needed, and it would be immediately distributed to all the provinces. Media reports have indicated that Cubans are experiencing food shortages as the US blockade and pressure campaign continue. According to Cuban officials, China has committed to sending a total of 60,000 tons of grain to Cuba.

The shipment follows the arrival of another aid ship ‘Asian Katra’ coming from Mexico on 19th May. Cuban officials hailed the arrival of a Chinese-owned cargo ship carrying aid from Mexico and Uruguay to the impoverished island. Mexico has continued to send aid shipments but, in deference to the Trump administration’s threats of secondary sanctions, suspended badly needed energy shipments to the island.

The cargo ship Asian Katra arrived in Havana from Asipona Pajaritos in Veracruz. Owned by a Chinese company, the ship is registered in Panama and appeared to have been permitted to proceed without interference from the United States. It was the first shipment aboard a merchant vessel, and aboard were 1,700 tons of supplies reported to include rice, beans, and milk.

Cuba’s food minister, Alberto López Díaz, hailed the arrival, saying it was the latest sign of solidarity with the Mexican people, with the added support from Uruguay. He thanked Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for her “leadership and firm commitment”. He called it a critical donation received with the deepest gratitude.

“This aid arrives at times of great economic difficulties, worsened by the criminal blockade of the United States. It is an act of brotherhood that strengthens hope and eases suffering”, wrote Alberto López Díaz on social media.

Cuban officials claimed it was the eighth shipment from Mexico, which began the humanitarian deliveries in February. The French news agency AFP and the Associated Press, however, could only account for four prior shipments: two Mexican warships in February and two more in March. Cuban officials said they have now received over 3,125 tons of aid, including food, medicine, hygiene products, and solar panels, although critics claim little of it is reaching the average Cuban.

At the same time, the Christian charity Saint’ Egidio International reported that it had dispatched another container on May 15 from Genoa bound for Cuba. They said it is loaded with medicine, medical supplies, and wheelchairs, valued in total at approximately €700,000 (US$815,000).

On May 9, another container from the charity reached Havana carrying 22,000 kg of rice and flour, and the charity said another container with 24,000 kg of food aid is also on its way to Santiago de Cuba. Continuing into June, the charity plans to ship additional containers with oil, flour, vegetables, and sugar. It said it expects to send one container to Havana and a second one to Santiago.

However, there is no additional word on a second Russian oil shipment that was believed to have left Europe in April. The product tanker Universal’s last reported position was in the middle of the Atlantic, displaying “waiting for orders”. After making its first oil delivery earlier in the month, Russia had said it was preparing a second delivery.

Despite these efforts, there continue to be reports of widespread outages on the island. The country has used the first Russian oil shipment and can only produce about 40% of its oil needs. Blackouts have become common across the island.

Team Maverick.