China has denied allegations that it operates four intelligence sites in Cuba aimed at spying on the United States. The accusations come from a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), which identified the facilities through satellite imagery.
Chinese Foreign Minister Mao Ning responded by calling the claims baseless, emphasizing that cooperation between China and Cuba is lawful and not aimed at any third party. Cuban officials joined in rejecting the allegations, with Foreign Minister Carlos de Cossio dismissing the report as propaganda meant to justify U.S. economic sanctions.
The report detailed four Cuban sites of interest, noting their significant upgrades in recent years despite Cuba’s financial troubles. One location near Bejucal reportedly includes underground facilities and satellite antennas capable of intercepting communications. Satellite images showed activity at the site as recently as March 2024.
China’s relationship with Cuba has grown closer over the decades, bolstered by $7.8 billion in development aid provided by Beijing. Critics argue this partnership has strategic implications, given Cuba’s proximity to U.S. sites like the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Concerns about Chinese intelligence activities in Cuba have been raised before. In 2016, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) criticized the presence of a suspected Chinese listening post in Bejucal. Rubio, now President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for Secretary of State, may soon address these issues on a global stage.
Both nations continue to deny any espionage ties, but the claims have added to ongoing scrutiny of China’s growing influence in the Western Hemisphere.
