The China Factor and U.S.-Cuban Relations

Any discussion of the thaw in U.S.-Cuban relations must address China’s key role in Cuba’s political and economic structure. Today, China is not only a longtime supporter of the regime but also Cuba’s largest trading partner. Perhaps more importantly, the thaw in Sino-U.S. relations and subsequent shift in Chinese economic policy offers a potential model to the Cuban communist regime, a “moral inspiration” that encourages openness to the international economy, while maintaining internal control. This chapter examines the ways China’s direct economic and political interactions with the Cuban government facilitate further economic opening, while maintaining state control over key political and economic sectors. The chapter also examines the limits of the Chinese model and its implications for Cuba’s future.