Why was cuba made a protectorate of the united states rather than given its own sovereignty?

United States made Cuba a protectorate to best serve its interests. By enforcing the Teller amendment that that ensures that U.s would not control the island except for pacification but the Platt amendment grant them the right to buy or lease land for the coaling station and naval bases. U.S intervention was always there which could not be held by granting Sovereignty.

china unilaterally claims the entire south china sea as sovereign territory, then builds artificial islands to bolster its claim. it suddenly activates an air defense identification zone over the east china sea, and threatens to down any aircraft that does not report its position. it builds roads into indian territory, then redraws the maps to show that it is actually chinese territory. the people's republic under president xi jinping is quickly becoming the bully of asia.