Why is China America's friend, but Cuba isn't?

Krisidious

It must be the same reason we buy oil from tyrants like Chavez, we liberate countries like Iraq and leave to toil countries like Darfur.

but more than that I suspect it's a long held policy of no Communism in the Western Hemisphere, an extension of the Monroe Doctrine. which after the loss of a few Central and South American countries became no Communism in the North-Western Hemisphere. and thus comes the Cuban Missile crisis and the Bay of Pigs fiasco and our since standing base at Guantanamo Bay. we had hoped that Castro would die and the country would be free... but not yet.

jeff hammond

china has better cigars

pbacot

I hope to go to Cuba someday. It has always irked me that the Land of the Free's government is telling me where I cannot go.

No special love for Castro but I think some USA factions resent that their tyranny was replaced by his.

Stinkie

Yeah. Not a fan of Castro's either (though I am on the left), but I think the US's embargo is absurd.

Alan Fraser

Yes, the embargo should have been lifted years ago. Just think of all those lovingly-preserved vintage cars you could get your hands on.

Seriously, Ecuadorian is right...the given reasons are pure BS. Of course it's all about money, trade and local politics. Anyone with a non-US passport doesn't have a problem. Link

Stinkie

@alan fraser said:

Seriously, Ecuadorian is right...the given reasons are pure BS. Of course it's all about money, trade and local politics.

Yeah. And imagine what would happen to the US president who lifts the embargo. Not being re-elected would be the least of his/her problems, I think.

solo

If we cannot break the trade embargo at least lets give them Coca Cola, they are one of three countries in the world that do not sell Coke.

Rich O Brien

Wow, that is an odd stat. What are the other 2?

solo

North Korea and Mayanmar (Burma)

Rich O Brien

Recently there was an iPad app that had 100's of images from within N.Korea. It was truly boggling to behold. One image struck me which was of their first and only fast food restaurant.

Obviously what you saw above the counter to eat was exactly what you got on the plate.

I find it hard to grasp what it must be like to be in a situation where your every move is dictated.

At least Cuba is somewhat liberal. Or that's the impression I have.

Daniel

@solo said:

If we cannot break the trade embargo at least lets give them Coca Cola, they are one of three countries in the world that do not sell Coke.

OH, THE HUMANITY!

Getting back to the original question, I suspect at least part of the answer goes back to cold war politics. Cuba was chummy with the USSR, perceived enemy of the West, one result being the Cuban Missile Crisis. Because of their close ties with the USSR, becoming friendly with Cuba was never really an option.

Although a communist country, China was never really on very friendly terms with the USSR, and it seemed natural to draw the one further away from the other; the process of befriending China has been going on for decades, starting with Nixon, and involved the gradual introduction of capitalism. You have to admit the China of today is different from the China of 30-40 years ago (Chairman Mao is probably rolling is his tomb).

EscapeArtist

Cuba - commies with nothing we want.

China - commies that make our stuff cheaply so that corporations can make $$$.

It's all about money.

Daniel

To think a country's economy never factors in the Great Game of politics, no mater the size of that country, would be naive. But it wasn't/isn't all about the money. Idealogy and world influence played/plays a part, too.