Sunday Jun 11, 2023
China has operated a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019 as part of its global effort to improve intelligence gathering, according to a US official in the Biden administration.
The U.S. intelligence community has long been aware of China's espionage activities in Cuba and its broader ambitions to establish similar operations around the world. The Biden administration has stepped up efforts to counter China's expanding spying operations, making progress through diplomacy and other undisclosed actions.
The confirmation of the Chinese spy base came after The Wall Street Journal reported that China and Cuba had agreed to build an electronic listening station on the island. However, the White House and Cuban officials dismissed the report as inaccurate.
Relations between the US and China have been tense during Biden's presidency, with conflicts stemming from visits to Taiwan and the US shooting down a Chinese spy balloon that entered US airspace. Despite these tensions, the White House is eager to resume high-level communications with China.
A Biden administration official confirmed that Chinese espionage from Cuba is an ongoing issue and not a recent development. China has been exploring various intelligence-gathering locations around the world, including existing facilities in Cuba, and in 2019 it refined its espionage operation on the island.
The US and China have made limited efforts to ease tensions, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken planning a trip to China and previous meetings between the two countries' leaders. However, China rejected US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's request for a meeting.
The Chinese presence in Cuba has been documented in intelligence records, although the Cuban government denies the existence of a Chinese spy base. News of the planned base in Cuba coincides with China's broader push to expand its security presence globally.
US officials believe their diplomatic efforts have slowed China's activities in Cuba, but the situation remains worrisome. Secretary of State Blinken's rescheduled visit to China is seen as a significant step, but the US official acknowledged that China's ambitions have not been completely curbed.
The existence of the spy base was confirmed despite denials by China and Cuba. Tensions between the US and China remain, and efforts are underway to restore high-level communication. The US believes its diplomatic efforts have hindered Chinese activities in Cuba, but concerns remain.
