China's Vice President Han Zheng urges US to respect Gulf sovereignty and lift Cuba blockade in UN speech

At the UN General Assembly on September 26, 2026, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng pushed back against US policies, urging respect for Gulf sovereignty and calling for an end to the blockade on Cuba. He did not name the US directly. The speech contrasted with the warm Trump-Xi summit earlier in the week. Han also emphasized China's role as a defender of developing nations. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed similar calls, urging Washington to lift the siege on Cuba.