Published Wednesday, 21 October, 12:31 p.m. ET (12:31 p.m. Havana) · Source: China’s Foreign Ministry briefing
Key Facts
—What happened. China’s foreign ministry rejected the Florida arrest warrant for Raúl Castro.
—Who spoke. Spokesperson Mao Ning, at the regular Beijing briefing on Wednesday 21 October.
—What China wants. The US should end its embargo and stop “coercion and pressure” on Cuba.
—What happens next. No court date or concrete Chinese step has been announced.
—Why it matters for US readers. A Florida case against a former Cuban leader now has a China angle.
—Prediction markets. Polymarket: 5.3% chance Castro is in US custody by 31 December (US$828,624 traded; 12:31 p.m. ET, 21 October 2026).
This story is part of our coverage of the cuba news. Dates, times and how to follow it are in our guide.
China has rejected the arrest warrant that Florida issued for Raúl Castro, the 95-year-old former Cuban leader. Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday 21 October that Beijing opposes the “abuse of judicial measures to pressure Cuba”.
Florida’s attorney general announced the warrant on Monday 19 October over the 1996 shootdown of two civilian planes, as we reported in our earlier story. China’s reply adds a new voice to the Cuba geopolitics debate over who backs Havana.
In plain English
A US state has accused Cuba’s former leader of helping plan a deadly attack in 1996. China, a government friendly to Havana, says the case is political pressure. The words do not change the legal case, but they show which countries stand with Havana.
What China Said
Asked about the warrant at the foreign ministry’s regular briefing, Mao Ning called Castro “a venerated Cuban revolutionary leader held in high international esteem”. She noted that Cuba’s president and foreign minister had condemned the move as a “pathetic circus”.
“China opposes abuse of judicial measures to pressure Cuba, and firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and opposing external interference,” she said. She urged the United States to “immediately stop its blockade and any other form of coercion and pressure”.
The Warrant Behind the Row
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a state warrant charging Castro with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. It concerns the 24 February 1996 shootdown of two unarmed Brothers to the Rescue planes, which killed four men; Castro was then Cuba’s defence minister.
A separate federal indictment, unsealed on 20 May 2026, also charges him over the attack. Castro has not been convicted of anything, and our Raúl Castro indictment explainer sets out both cases.
What Prediction Markets Say
Traders on Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction market, put the chance that Castro is in US custody by 31 December at 5.3%, with US$828,624 traded (12:31 p.m. ET, 21 October 2026). Prices are bets, not polls.
Why we show this: prediction markets turn real-money bets into a live probability that moves within minutes of the news, which is why investors, campaigns and newsrooms in the United States now follow them closely. We show them next to polls and official results, never instead of them.
What It Means for US Readers
China’s statement is diplomacy, not action, and it carries no legal weight in Florida. It does show Beijing treating a US state case as part of its wider dispute with Washington over Cuba, which our Cuba-US tensions guide follows.
Watch whether other governments echo Beijing, and whether Washington answers.
What Is Not Known
No court date has been announced, and it is unclear whether any country would act on the warrant. Beijing gave no sign of a concrete step beyond its statement.
Sources
China Foreign Ministry regular press conference, 21 October 2026 · 14ymedio · NBC Miami · Florida Phoenix · Polymarket
More: Cuba Under Pressure From Washington · Cuba news
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
Cuba and the United States
- What Is Going On Between Cuba and the United States?
- What Is Going On Between Cuba and the United States?
- Can Americans Still Travel to Cuba in 2026?
- Who Runs Cuba in 2026? Raúl Castro and the US Murder Charge
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did China comment on a Florida warrant?
Beijing is friendly to Havana and says it opposes US pressure on Cuba. Its foreign ministry spokesperson was asked about the warrant on Wednesday 21 October and said China supports Cuba’s sovereignty.
Does China’s statement change anything for Castro?
No legal effect has been reported. The spokesperson announced no concrete measure, only a call on Washington to end the embargo and other pressure.
Who is Raúl Castro?
Raúl Castro, 95, led Cuba as president from 2008 to 2018 and succeeded his brother Fidel. In 1996 he was defence minister; Florida alleges he helped authorise the attack.
Has Castro been convicted of anything?
No. The Florida charge, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, is an allegation that a court has not tested. A separate federal indictment from May 2026 is also pending.