US policy against Cuba aims to provoke social unrest: Cuban FM

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Friday denounced the U.S. policy of "maximum pressure" and economic asphyxiation against Cuba, saying the policy aims to reduce the Cuban government's ability to provide basic goods and services, thereby provoking social unrest.

In a social media post, Rodriguez said the U.S. targets the main sources of external income for the Cuban economy, seeking to provoke public frustration, social unrest and a change in the constitutional order.

Rodriguez listed measures imposed by the U.S. on the banking and financial sectors in recent years, including relisting Cuba on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list and sanctioning Cuban financial institutions.

According to a U.S. media report on Friday, the Trump administration's strategy toward Cuba is increasingly focused on intensifying economic sanctions and pressure rather than deploying military forces.

The U.S. has long imposed an economic, financial and trade embargo on Cuba. Following military operations against Venezuela and Iran this year, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened that "Cuba is next" and further increased pressure on the country, imposing an oil blockade to intensify sanctions.

China opened 15 new international air cargo routes in September, adding 42 round-trip flights per week, the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP)’s air logistics division said on Sunday.

The newly launched routes included nine to Asia, four to Europe, and two to North America.

The cargo transported on the routes mainly included cross-border e-commerce goods, fresh food and agricultural products, electromechanical and electronic products, high-end manufactured goods, and consumer goods for daily use.

The flights are operated by nine airlines, eight of which are Chinese carriers.

According to CFLP’s air logistics division, China had opened a total of 130 new international air cargo routes as of September 30 this year, adding more than 334 round-trip flights per week.