China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday said there had been no reports of its citizens being stranded in Cuba due to airlines suspending flights to the country because of a jet fuel shortage, following the US blocking of shipments from Venezuela.

“China firmly supports Cuba in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security, and opposes foreign interference,” Lin Jian, a foreign ministry spokesperson, told a regular news conference.

“We will always provide support and help to the Cuban side to the best of our ability.”