The Interpretation of Cuban Leader Changing in the US and China

On February 19, 2008, Cuban leader Fidel Castro announced that he decided to resign, and would not accept a new term as president or commander-in-chief. On February 24, 2008, Raul Castro, Fidel Castro’s younger brother, was elected as the new president of Cuba, ending Fidel Castro’s near half century rule. As the special relationship between Cuba and America, the Cuban leader changing has brought up some attention to the American media, and Chinese media have been reporting Fidel Castro’s resignation as well.

American media mainly focus on Castro’s quitting, the new regime of Cuba, making prediction about the future relationship between the US and Cuba, which has just ushered a new leader. New York Times, for instance, published an article Castro Quits One Role, but May Not Be Done Yet that indicated the if Raul was elected to be the new leader, the power would still be remained to the Castros, which means Cuba was actually not so eager to seek a change either of itself nor with Washington. Two articles on New York Times and Washington Post paid attention to the action Raul took on human rights in Cuba just a few days after he became the president of this country, reviewing that Raul’s policy implied he would like to improve Cuba’s current state of human rights rather than his brother Fidel, of course in the condition of himself being in charge of the country.

In the meantime, with regard to Cuban leader’s changing, Chinese media report more about Fidel Castro himself, and his achievements as a great leader of a communist country. Words like “icon” and “legend” are commonly used in the reports. They generally emphasize that as the new president of Cuba, Raul will lead the country wisely as his brother did, while Fidel will still be the spiritual leader of Cuba. Some of the reports, but not too many, talked about the change of international relation (basically with the US) that Cuban leader changing would bring, and these views are usually mentioned in the special columns that demonstrate Fidel himself.

I understand the difference between the reports from China and America. From American perspective, the US has been imposing embargo against Cuba since February 1962, both the American government and media are paying attention on Cuban leader changing, and are looking on the changes it might bring to the Cuba-US relationship. China is a communist government leading country as well as Cuba, and these two countries have always had a “friendship” like most of the Chinese media say, therefore, China does not pay attention much on a “change”, but on Fidel himself. The American and Chinese different attitudes and points of view on Cuban leader changing actually reflect the difference of their media system and social system.




Sources:

New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/world/americas/20cuba.html?pagewanted=2&sq=Castro&st=cse&scp=4

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/world/americas/25cuba.html?st=cse&sq=Castro&scp=5

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/01/world/americas/01cuba.html?st=cse&sq=Castro&scp=1

Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/01/AR2008030100491.html?sub=AR

ChinaNews.com:

http://www.chinanews.com.cn/gj/gjxqdb/news/2008/02-28/1176745.shtml

xinhuanet.com (the official Website of Xinhua Agency):

http://www.xinhuanet.com/world/kasiteluo.htm