Thousands rally in Havana to support Venezuela against U.S. interference

Thousands of Cubans gathered on Friday in Havana to express solidarity with Venezuela and reject what they called growing U.S. interference in the South American country.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel led the rally, held along a main avenue in the Vedado district before the equestrian statue of Simon Bolivar.

The event brought together representatives of left-wing parties, delegates from several countries attending the Third International Meeting of Theoretical Publications of Left-Wing Parties and Movements, as well as local residents.

Roberto Morales, secretary of the organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, condemned what he called U.S. "interventionist plans" against Venezuela and highlighted the collection of more than 4.3 million Cuban signatures in solidarity with the Venezuelan people.

"Today, the same power he [Simon Bolivar] denounced seeks to subjugate Bolivarian Venezuela through the application of unilateral coercive measures. We are here to defend not only Venezuela's right to self-determination, but also the dignity of the Americas," he said.

Cuba has collected over 4.3 million signatures from Cuban citizens aged 16 and above and compiled them into a bound volume.

Diaz-Canel personally handed the signature book to the Venezuelan representatives at the rally.

Participants waved Venezuelan flags and held banners denouncing the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, describing it as a direct threat to the region's sovereignty. "This rally is a reaffirmation of our support for the Venezuelan people and a demonstration of the unity between Cuba and Venezuela. Venezuela is not fighting alone. This act of [U.S.] aggression against Venezuela is also directed at Cuba, and we are here to make this message heard once again," said a participant of the rally.

Diaz-Canel reaffirmed Cuba's support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, writing on social media platform X: "At a time when the empire and its reckless leader authorize CIA covert operations against Venezuela, we express our solidarity with that brotherly people and especially with President Nicolas Maduro."

Last week, Cuba's Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting what it called U.S. "pretexts" for potential military action against Venezuela and urged the international community to rally in opposition.

Thousands rally in Havana to support Venezuela against U.S. interference

Thousands rally in Havana to support Venezuela against U.S. interference

Thousands rally in Havana to support Venezuela against U.S. interference

Thousands rally in Havana to support Venezuela against U.S. interference

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media