Chinese Vice‑President Han Zheng calls for respect of Gulf sovereignty and end to Cuba blockade at UN
In a speech on 26 September 2026, Han Zheng urged the relevant country to stop threatening Cuba and lift its embargo, without naming the United States.
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
Photograph: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
What this story says
- On 26 September 2026, Chinese Vice‑President Han Zheng addressed the UN General Assembly.
- He urged respect for Gulf states’ sovereignty and called for an immediate end to threats of force against Cuba and the lifting of its blockade.
- He did not mention the United States by name in his remarks.
- Outlets across the political spectrum reported the speech with differing additional details.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 17 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 36 of the 53 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
78/100
Craft
52/100
Hype
15/100
53 sources · methodology
Missing from the left
Only 4 of the 17 outlets with a published leaning rating that ran this story are rated left.
A reader who follows the left would not have seen this. We report the absence rather than explain it: outlets choose what to cover for many reasons, and we have no evidence about which one applies here.
The United Nations General Assembly met in New York on 26 September 2026. During the high‑level debate, Vice‑President Han Zheng of the People’s Republic of China delivered a statement on behalf of his government.
Han Zheng said the sovereignty of countries in the Gulf region must be respected. He then called on the “relevant country” to cease any threats of force against Cuba and to lift the blockade and sanctions that have been imposed on the island.
In his remarks he made no direct reference to the United States. The speech formed part of a broader session that also featured representatives from Russia, Cuba, Nicaragua, India and other nations.
What the coverage left out
None of the left‑rated or centre‑rated digests mention China’s self‑description as a reliable partner for developing nations or the reassurance that China would not back United States pressures on Iran, details that appear only in the Times of India digest on the right. The centre digests also omit the United States pressure‑campaign context that Al‑Monitor includes. No digest reported any reaction from the United States to Han Zheng’s remarks.
Coverage settled. We checked this 107 times and stopped on 2 Oct 2026, 02:30. The figures above are what it finished at.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
4 rated outlets
- Al‑Monitor’s digest reported that Han Zheng pushed back against the United States, reiterated the need for Gulf sovereignty, and urged the relevant country to stop threatening Cuba and lift its blockade. The digest also noted that Han Zheng did not name the United States and added that the United States has launched a pressure campaign on Cuba that has largely blocked the island’s economy.
Centre
3 rated outlets
- The centre digests from WTVB, Reuters, Jerusalem Post, Investing.com, Market Screener, The Mighty 790 KFGO and 1330 & 101.5 WHBL all reported that China criticised United States policy at the UN General Assembly, called for Gulf states’ sovereignty to be respected and urged the lifting of the blockade on Cuba. El Periódico added that the meeting took place amid wars in Iran, Gaza and Ukraine and noted President Donald Trump’s return to the assembly.
- None of the centre digests provide a direct quotation from Han Zheng or any other speaker; they summarise the content of the speech without attributing specific remarks. The reports also omit details about the United States’ response or any broader diplomatic context beyond the brief statements.
- The digests uniformly omit the name of the “relevant country” referenced in the Chinese statement, and they do not mention any Iranian or Gulf‑region specifics. Apart from El Periódico’s reference to President Trump, the centre outlets do not include any commentary on US policy or on potential economic implications.
Right
10 rated outlets
- Five right‑rated digests (Cyprus Mail, Times of India, The Straits Times, Mehr News Agency and vz.ru) all highlighted that Han Zheng pushed back against the United States, stressed respect for Gulf sovereignty and demanded that the relevant country stop threatening Cuba and lift its blockade.
- Times of India added that Han Zheng portrayed China as a reliable partner for developing nations and said China would not support United States pressures on Iran. Mehr News Agency and vz.ru reproduced a verbatim quote from Han Zheng: “The threat of using force against Cuba must be stopped immediately and the blockade and sanctions imposed against it must be completely lifted.” The other right‑leaning digests repeated the core points without additional commentary.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Chinese Vice‑President Han Zheng calls for respect of Gulf sovereignty…?
- Of the 17 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 24% are rated left, 17% are rated centre, 59% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 53. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Chinese Vice‑President Han Zheng calls for respect of Gulf sovereignty… left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 17 rated outlets on this story, 24% are rated left, 17% are rated centre, 59% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Chinese Vice‑President Han Zheng calls for respect of Gulf sovereignty… biased?
- Chinese Vice‑President Han Zheng calls for respect of Gulf sovereignty and end to Cuba blockade at UN is one event reported by 53 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which side is not reporting Chinese Vice‑President Han Zheng calls for respect of Gulf sovereignty…?
- When we first saw this story, outlets rated left had barely covered it. Coverage accretes for hours after an event, so that is where to look rather than a verdict — the split above is the current count, and it is the one to read.
- Which outlets covered Chinese Vice‑President Han Zheng calls for respect of Gulf sovereignty…?
- 53 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What did Han Zheng say about Cuba at the UN?
- Han Zheng said the threat of using force against Cuba must be stopped immediately and that the blockade and sanctions imposed on the island must be completely lifted. He framed the demand as an urgent call for the relevant country to act.
- Did Han Zheng mention the United States by name?
- No. All the digests confirm that Han Zheng did not name the United States in his speech, even though several outlets described his remarks as a push back against the United States.
- When and where did Han Zheng deliver his speech?
- Han Zheng spoke at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 26 September 2026, during the high‑level week of the eighty‑first session of the Assembly.
Read it at the source
98 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
7- Russia Demands Release of President Maduro and End to Cuba Blockade at UN (+Plasencia’s Agenda) (opens Orinoco Tribune in a new tab)
Orinoco Tribune — is Orinoco Tribune biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia Demands the Release of Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores (opens Efecto Cocuyo in a new tab)
Efecto Cocuyo — is Efecto Cocuyo biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia Demands Immediate Release of Venezuelan Presidential Couple in New York (opens teleSUR in a new tab)
- Lavrov Put Forward US Claims for Maduro and Iran (opens rbc.ua in a new tab)
- China pushes back against U.S. on Iran, Cuba in UN speech (opens CBC News in a new tab)
- China pushes back against U.S. on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens The Hindu in a new tab)
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens Al-Monitor in a new tab)
Al-Monitor — is Al-Monitor biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
11- ‘Dictatorship of one hegemon...’: Lavrov accuses US of invading Venezuela, abducting Maduro at UNGA (opens The Economic Times in a new tab)
The Economic Times — is The Economic Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Demands the Release of Maduro, the End of the Blockade on Cuba and a State for Palestine (opens Hola News in a new tab)
- Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov urges US to lift blockade of Cuba (opens Devdiscourse in a new tab)
Devdiscourse — is Devdiscourse biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens Investing.com in a new tab)
Investing.com — is Investing.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens Jerusalem Post in a new tab)
Jerusalem Post — is Jerusalem Post biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens Market Screener in a new tab)
Market Screener — is Market Screener biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens Reuters in a new tab)
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens 1330 & 101.5 WHBL in a new tab)
1330 & 101.5 WHBL — is 1330 & 101.5 WHBL biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 3 more
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens The Mighty 790 KFGO in a new tab)
The Mighty 790 KFGO — is The Mighty 790 KFGO biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens WTVB in a new tab)
- General Assembly of the UN, Live China, Russia and Cuba Intervene in the General Assembly of the UN (opens El Periódico in a new tab)
El Periódico — is El Periódico biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
21- ‘Dictatorship of one hegemon...’: Lavrov accuses US of invading Venezuela, abducting Maduro at UNGA (opens Times of India in a new tab)
Times of India — is Times of India biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russian Foreign Minister Demands the Release of Nicolás Maduro and His Wife: “We Ask that These Excesses Not Be Repeated in the Future” (opens La Tercera in a new tab)
La Tercera — is La Tercera biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Demands in the UN the Release of Maduro and the End of the Blockade on Cuba (opens La Razón in a new tab)
- Lavrov Demands the Release of Maduro and the Palestinian State and Accuses Europe of Blocking Peace in Ukraine (opens Sapo in a new tab)
- Lavrov Calls on US to Drop Restrictions on Cuba (opens BT in a new tab)
- Lavrov Calls on US to Drop Restrictions on Cuba (opens berlingske.dk in a new tab)
berlingske.dk — is berlingske.dk biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech - Regional Media News (opens regionalmedianews.com in a new tab)
regionalmedianews.com — is regionalmedianews.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Confronts US at UN Over Iran and Cuba (opens Modern Diplomacy in a new tab)
Modern Diplomacy — is Modern Diplomacy biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 13 more
- China Insists on the Sovereignty of Countries, Specifically Cuba, at the UN. (opens dagelijksestandaard.nl in a new tab)
dagelijksestandaard.nl — is dagelijksestandaard.nl biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens Cyprus Mail in a new tab)
Cyprus Mail — is Cyprus Mail biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens Times of India in a new tab)
Times of India
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens The Straits Times in a new tab)
The Straits Times — is The Straits Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens KELO Newstalk 1320 107.9 in a new tab)
KELO Newstalk 1320 107.9 — is KELO Newstalk 1320 107.9 biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens WTAQ in a new tab)
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens WKZO in a new tab)
- China: Threats to Use Force Against Cuba Must Stop Immediately (opens Mehr News Agency in a new tab)
Mehr News Agency — is Mehr News Agency biased? Our profile of this outletOpinion
- China Called for the Lifting of the Embargo Against Cuba (opens vz.ru in a new tab)
- Lavrov: Russia Supports Cuba in Its Fight Against the United States embargo: (opens EADaily in a new tab)
- Lavrov Called for Cuba to Be Removed From the United States List of Sponsors of Terrorism (opens vz.ru in a new tab)
vz.ru
- The Head of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Confirmed Support for Havana's Demands for the United States to End the Blockade. (opens Interfax.ru in a new tab)
Interfax.ru — is Interfax.ru biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Sergey Lavrov called for Cuba to be excluded from the American list of "countries sponsoring terrorism," the Russian Foreign Ministry said (opens news-pravda.com in a new tab)
news-pravda.com — is news-pravda.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
59- Lavrov Demands Release of Maduro, End of Blockade of Cuba and State for Palestine (opens Doble Llave in a new tab)
Doble Llave — is Doble Llave biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Demands the Release of Maduro From the United States and Calls for an End to the Embargo on Cuba (opens CiberCuba in a new tab)
- Lavrov to the UN: We Insist on the Immediate Release of Maduro and His Wife (opens AFV in a new tab)
- Russia Demands the Lifting of the Embargo Against Cuba and the Immediate Release of Maduro and His Wife. (opens eanlibya.com in a new tab)
eanlibya.com — is eanlibya.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- The Kidnapping of Maduro, the Blockade Against Cuba and European Influence in Ukraine: the Highlights of Lavrov's Speech to the UN (opens Contigo Puebla in a new tab)
Contigo Puebla — is Contigo Puebla biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia Asks to Free Maduro · Global Voices (opens Remolacha in a new tab)
- Russia Demands to the UN to 'Liberate Immediately' Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores (opens Noticias al Día y a la Hora in a new tab)
Noticias al Día y a la Hora — is Noticias al Día y a la Hora biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia Demands the Release of Maduro and the End of the Embargo on Cuba at the UN (opens ALnavío in a new tab)
Show 51 more
- Lavrov Asks to Release Maduro and Lift U.S. Sanctions Against Cuba (opens 14ymedio.com in a new tab)
14ymedio.com — is 14ymedio.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Demands in the UN the Release of Maduro, the End of the Blockade on Cuba and the Creation of the Palestinian State (opens Aporrea in a new tab)
- Sergey Lavrov Demands the Release of Nicolás Maduro, the End of the Blockade on Cuba and a State for Palestine (opens RPP in a new tab)
- Russian Foreign Minister Demands the Release of Nicolás Maduro and His Wife During UN General Assembly (opens EXITOSA NOTICIAS in a new tab)
EXITOSA NOTICIAS — is EXITOSA NOTICIAS biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia Demands the Release of Maduro, the End of the Blockade on Cuba and the Creation of a Palestinian State (opens DiarioVea in a new tab)
- Russia Demands the Release of Maduro, the End of the Blockade on Cuba and a State for Palestine (opens Gestion in a new tab)
- Russian Foreign Minister at the 81st UN Assembly (opens Radio Nicaragua in a new tab)
Radio Nicaragua — is Radio Nicaragua biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Demanded to the UN Release of Maduro, Lift Blockade of Cuba and a State for Palestine NEWS CHILE Informador Chile (opens Noticias Chile in a new tab)
Noticias Chile — is Noticias Chile biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov to US: Calls for Lifting of the Siege on Cuba (opens Libre in a new tab)
- Russia Again Demands the Immediate Release of Maduro and Cilia Flores (opens Jornal Toda Palavra in a new tab)
Jornal Toda Palavra — is Jornal Toda Palavra biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russian Foreign Minister Advocates at the UN for “The Prompt” Release of Nicolás Maduro · Global Voices (opens Caraota Digital in a new tab)
Caraota Digital — is Caraota Digital biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia Demands the Release of Nicolás Maduro (opens El Estímulo in a new tab)
El Estímulo — is El Estímulo biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Demands the Release of Maduro, the End of the Blockade on Cuba and a State for Palestine (opens El Comercio in a new tab)
El Comercio — is El Comercio biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Demanded in the UN the Release of Maduro and the End of the Blockade on Cuba (opens EL NACIONAL in a new tab)
EL NACIONAL — is EL NACIONAL biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Demands the Release of Maduro and the End of the Blockade on Cuba - Information Focus (opens focoinformativo.site in a new tab)
focoinformativo.site — is focoinformativo.site biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Called for the Immediate Release of Nicolas Maduro and His Wife From U.S. Detention at the UN: It Is Unacceptable (opens Aktual24 in a new tab)
- Sergei Lavrov Severely Accused Europe and Revealed What Will Happen (opens Avaz.ba in a new tab)
- Lavrov Calls on US to Drop Restrictions on Cuba (opens Kristeligt Dagblad in a new tab)
Kristeligt Dagblad — is Kristeligt Dagblad biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Criticized the U.S. for Kidnapping Maduro. (opens RTVI in a new tab)
- Russia Urges the UN to Lift the Blockade Against Cuba - News Press Latina (opens prensa-latina.cu in a new tab)
prensa-latina.cu — is prensa-latina.cu biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia's Lavrov Calls for the Release of Maduro (opens berliner-sonntagsblatt.de in a new tab)
berliner-sonntagsblatt.de — is berliner-sonntagsblatt.de biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Chinese Vice President's Sharp Criticism of the US on Iran and Cuba (opens insider.gr in a new tab)
insider.gr — is insider.gr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China at UN General Assembly: "Major Countries Have Special Responsibilities for the Middle East" (opens sigmalive.com in a new tab)
sigmalive.com — is sigmalive.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Lavrov Puts Hot Files on the Table: Calming the Gulf, Hermuz, Venezuela and a Palestinian State with United Nations Resolutions (opens Beirut 24 in a new tab)
- China urges US to lift Cuba embargo at UN (opens BizToc in a new tab)
- China Criticizes US over Iran and Cuba at UN (opens Libre in a new tab)
Libre
- China Pushes Back Against US on Iran and Cuba in UN Speech (opens KAYHAN LIFE in a new tab)
KAYHAN LIFE — is KAYHAN LIFE biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Called on the UN to Recognize the Sovereignty of Gulf States and to Lift Sanctions on Cuba. (opens Haberler in a new tab)
- China Criticizes U.S. Politics in Cuba and Iran After Xi and Trump Summit · Global Voices (opens lacronicabadajoz.com in a new tab)
lacronicabadajoz.com — is lacronicabadajoz.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Criticizes U.S. Politics in Cuba and Iran After Xi and Trump Summit · Global Voices (opens elcorreogallego.es in a new tab)
elcorreogallego.es — is elcorreogallego.es biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Criticizes U.S. Politics in Cuba and Iran After Xi and Trump Summit · Global Voices (opens elcorreoweb.es in a new tab)
elcorreoweb.es — is elcorreoweb.es biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Criticizes U.S. Politics in Cuba and Iran After Xi and Trump Summit · Global Voices (opens laprovincia.es in a new tab)
laprovincia.es — is laprovincia.es biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Criticizes U.S. Politics in Cuba and Iran After Xi and Trump Summit · Global Voices (opens informacion.es in a new tab)
informacion.es — is informacion.es biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens Egyptian Gazette in a new tab)
Egyptian Gazette — is Egyptian Gazette biased? Our profile of this outlet
- At the UN, Russia's Chancellor Calls for an End to the U.S. Blockade Against Cuba (opens CNN Brasil in a new tab)
CNN Brasil — is CNN Brasil biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China: Han Zheng Lashes Out at the US at the UN over Iran and Cuba (opens ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84 in a new tab)
ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84 — is ΑΘΗΝΑ 9,84 biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Chinese Vice President at UN General Assembly: Criticism of US on Iran and Cuba (opens Business Daily in a new tab)
Business Daily — is Business Daily biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Insists on the Sovereignty of Countries, Specifically Cuba, at the UN. (opens welingelichtekringen.nl in a new tab)
welingelichtekringen.nl — is welingelichtekringen.nl biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Insists on the Sovereignty of Countries, Specifically Cuba, at the UN. (opens Nieuws.nl in a new tab)
- UN: China Criticizes US for Its Stance on Iran and Cuba (opens ertnews.gr in a new tab)
ertnews.gr — is ertnews.gr biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Demands an Immediate End to the Embargo and Threats Against Cuba (opens El Periodista Online in a new tab)
El Periodista Online — is El Periodista Online biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens whtc.com in a new tab)
- China pushes back against US on Iran and Cuba in UN speech (opens WIN 98.5 in a new tab)
- China Called for an End to the Threat of Use of Force Against Cuba (opens oreanda-news.com in a new tab)
oreanda-news.com — is oreanda-news.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- New York Starts on the Fifth Day of the UN General Assembly Debate (opens noticiaslatam.lat in a new tab)
noticiaslatam.lat — is noticiaslatam.lat biased? Our profile of this outlet
- China Critics US Position on Iran and Cuba at UN General Assembly (opens CNN Brasil in a new tab)
CNN Brasil
- Cuban Foreign Minister Meets Lavrov: Russia Supports Cuba and Demands an End to the US Blockade (opens cubainformación.tv in a new tab)
cubainformación.tv — is cubainformación.tv biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Cuban Foreign Minister Meets Lavrov: Russia Supports Cuba and Demands an End to the US Blockade (opens Cubadebate in a new tab)
Cubadebate — is Cubadebate biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia Supports Cuba in Demanding an End to the U.S. Blockade - Radio Habana Cuba (opens Radio Havana Cuba in a new tab)
Radio Havana Cuba — is Radio Havana Cuba biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Russia Supports Cuba’s Demand to Lift the US Trade Blockade Against the Country, Reports the Russian Foreign Ministry (opens noticiaslatam.lat in a new tab)
noticiaslatam.lat
- Lavrov Joined Cuba on the UNGA and Called on the United States to Lift the Blockade and Remove the Country From the Blacklist. (opens Life.ru in a new tab)
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