China has long spied on Cuba
Washington was informed of China’s “efforts” to set up bases “all over the world”, especially for espionage purposes, particularly in Cuba.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
AFP
China has been trying for years to expand its spying operations away from Cuba, where it honed its capabilities in 2019, a White House official said on Saturday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The report comes after several US media followed the Wall Street Journal in recent days citing an agreement between Havana and Beijing to set up a “spy base” on the island, about 160km off Florida. United Nations. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called the Wall Street Journal article “false.”
The US executive now points out that when Joe Biden took office in January 2021, his services were informed of “efforts” to set up bases “around the world” for espionage purposes, according to this source. Among those “efforts” was “the presence of China’s intelligence-gathering sites in Cuba,” the official said, adding that Beijing “upgraded its intelligence-gathering sites in Cuba in 2019.” “This is well established in the investigative records,” the official said.
The plans were slowed down by the US government
He said the Biden administration had “inherited” this situation and vowed to respond to plans to establish Chinese bases in the world with “discrimination and caution,” including through diplomatic channels with many governments. The U.S. government says it has “slowly scaled back” China’s foreign expansion plans but says “challenges remain and we are concerned” about relations with Cuba.
He said that China will continue to try to strengthen its presence in Cuba and will continue to work to prevent it. The issue is diplomatically sensitive, with the US president saying he hopes to “defuse” already tense relations with Beijing and prompting a meeting with his counterpart Xi Jinping in the near future.
It’s also politically embarrassing: Joe Biden, who is campaigning for re-election in 2024, continues to be challenged by a Republican opposition that is intransigent in the face of China and the Communist regime in Cuba. Relations between the two powers saw a sharp rise in tensions in February, after the US destroyed a Chinese balloon that flew over their soil. The White House has accused Beijing of using it for espionage, which China denies.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to China was canceled due to the incident. The visit has been rescheduled for June 18.
AFP
Did you find an error?Please let us know.
“Avid gamer. Social media geek. Proud troublemaker. Thinker. Travel fan. Problem solver.”