China says wider US sanctions on Cuba are 'illegal'

HONG KONG, May ‌5 (Reuters) - China ​urged ​Washington on Tuesday to immediately end its embargo and sanctions on ‌Cuba, saying the expanded measures were "illegal" and "seriously ⁠violated" the norms of international relations.

U.S. President Donald Trump, ‌seeking to put more ‌pressure on Havana after ousting Venezuela's leader, signed an executive order on Friday broadening ​U.S. sanctions against the Cuban government, two White House officials told Reuters.

Beijing has ⁠voiced support for the socialist island after tension flared in ​January between the United States and Cuba after the U.S. captured Venezuelan leader ​Nicolas Maduro, long a ‌close ally of Cuba.

"The United States has intensified its illegal unilateral ⁠sanctions against Cuba," China's foreign ministry said, criticising the move as "seriously violating" the basic norms of ⁠international relations.

"China ... urges the United States to immediately end ​the embargo and sanctions against Cuba and any form of coercive pressure," it added in a statement, ‌saying they violated the Cuban people's right to existence and development.

China ‌backs Cuba's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty ⁠and security and resolutely ‌opposes interference in ​its internal affairs, the ministry added.

(Reporting by Clare Jim; Editing by Clarence ‌Fernandez)

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