China and Cuba have pushed back against claims that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operates surveillance facilities on the island aimed at targeting the United States. The accusations stem from a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which identified several sites in Cuba suspected of conducting intelligence activities.
Chinese Foreign Minister Mao Ning dismissed the accusations, insisting that the cooperation between China and Cuba is lawful and not directed at any other country. Cuban Foreign Minister Carlos de Cossio also rejected the claims, describing them as part of an effort to rationalize ongoing U.S. sanctions.
The CSIS report focused on four sites in particular, highlighting recent upgrades to their infrastructure. One facility near Bejucal, identified as active earlier this year, reportedly includes satellite antennas and underground facilities. These upgrades stand out given Cuba’s ongoing economic difficulties.
The relationship between China and Cuba has deepened in recent years, with Beijing providing $7.8 billion in development funding. Critics argue that this alliance has strategic implications, especially since Cuba’s location near the United States provides potential access to sensitive military and space operations in Florida.
Concerns about China’s activities in Cuba are not new. In 2016, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) called for the removal of a Chinese-operated listening station in Bejucal. Now nominated as Secretary of State under President-elect Donald Trump, Rubio is likely to revisit the issue.
The allegations of espionage underscore growing tensions between the U.S. and China, with both nations expanding their strategic influence in the region.
