Published June 6, 2000, USA Today

Cuba is not China

By Lincoln Diaz-Balart

I recognize that commercial relations are being normalized with China, something that I strongly oppose, but I also recognize that China is not Cuba.

First of all, Castro is bankrupt, and only U.S. taxpayer financing would allow his dictatorship to purchase any significant amount of U.S. goods.

Furthermore, U.S. sanctions against Cuba may be unilateral, but they nonetheless constitute decisive leverage for a democratic transition to take place once Castro is gone from the scene.

Keep in mind that geographically, culturally and historically, there are close ties between the Cuban and American peoples. Keep in mind that the  United States stood alone in helping the Cuban people achieve their independence from European colonialism a century ago. Keep in mind that Cuba is in the Western Hemisphere, the only otherwise fully democratic hemisphere. Keep in mind that Cuba had a thriving economy, a strong   independent press, multiple political parties and a robust civil society before Castro came to power.

If we keep our sanctions until Castro dies or is overthrown, those who will be in a position of provisional power in Cuba will have no choice but to agree to free the political prisoners, legalize political activity, the press and labor unions, and hold elections.

But if we end our sanctions now, unilaterally, before the dictatorship takes concrete steps toward freeing the Cuban people, the Cuban people may be condemned to decades more of oppression.

Regarding Cuba, our choice is clear: We can act as the European Economic Community did with the dictatorships of Spain and Portugal in the 1970s, when Europe told those countries that they had to become democracies if they wished to be part of the European Union. (And when Francisco Franco died in Spain, those who found themselves in power had no choice but to agree to a democratic transition, as did Antonio de Oliveira Salazar's successors in Portugal.)

Or we can provide the Cuban dictatorship with billions of dollars in trade and tourism, thereby eliminating the Cuban people's critical leverage for a democratic transition.

Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., is a native of Cuba and four-term member of the House.