This past Monday, Miguel Díaz-Canel extended his congratulations to China's government and citizens on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. However, his message quickly became the subject of widespread criticism and ridicule on social media.
Through a video and several tweets, the Cuban leader conveyed "on behalf of the Party, the Government, and the Cuban people" his wishes for "happiness, health, and prosperity" to the "dear and brotherly people" of China.
He also expressed optimism that during the new "Year of the Fire Horse," both nations would continue progressing "in defense of the socialist cause" and in building a "community of shared future between China and Cuba."
The Lunar New Year is a significant celebration in China and other Asian countries, governed by the lunar calendar and associated each year with an animal from the Chinese zodiac. Diplomatically, it serves as an opportunity to strengthen political and economic alliances.
Nevertheless, on Facebook, the post garnered over 300 comments within hours, many of which were filled with discontent. Numerous users questioned why the leader spoke of "prosperity" while the country faces power outages, inflation, and shortages of food and medicine.
"Please, let this new lunar year be the one where dictators leave Cuba and our people can be free," one user wrote. Another asked, "When will we have a happy year ourselves?" Some even mocked the message: "That's a meme hahaha," "This is too much," or "This is AI, right?"
Other Cubans directly criticized the situation within the country. "Do you even know the prices of food on the streets?" one user asked, while another demanded, "What you need to do is let the Cuban people be free to choose their future."
The disparity between the official discourse on strategic cooperation with China and the everyday reality on the Island was once again highlighted in the comments, where many Cubans seized the diplomatic greeting as a chance to voice their frustration over the nation's ongoing crisis.
Public Reaction to Díaz-Canel's New Year Message
Why did Díaz-Canel's message to China receive backlash?
Many Cubans criticized the message for discussing prosperity while Cuba is experiencing severe economic challenges, including power outages, inflation, and shortages of essential goods.
How did social media users react to Díaz-Canel's greetings?
Social media users expressed frustration and disbelief, with some mocking the message and others calling for political change in Cuba.
What did Díaz-Canel express in his Lunar New Year message to China?
Díaz-Canel wished the Chinese people happiness, health, and prosperity, emphasizing the ongoing partnership between China and Cuba in supporting socialist ideals.