Han urges respect for Gulf sovereignty and end to Cuba blockade

China’s Vice President Han Zheng used an address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 26 to call for respect for Middle Eastern sovereignty and urge an unnamed country to stop threatening Cuba and lift its blockade and sanctions. Han did not identify the country, but his remarks were widely understood to refer to the United States. Han said the sovereignty and security of Middle Eastern countries, including Gulf states, should be respected. He urged major powers to uphold international rules and said disputes should be resolved through dialogue, opposing unilateral military action that violates the UN Charter or bypasses Security Council authorization. On Cuba, Han called on the unnamed country to stop using the threat of force and to lift its blockade and sanctions. The remarks addressed a longstanding point of tension between China and the United States, which has imposed restrictions on Cuba. The speech did not specify what actions Han meant by threats of force. The address came two days after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Washington. The U.S.