Espionage scenarios have been sparked by the statement by a US presidential official, who asked not to be named, that China is secretly monitoring the activities of USA from Cuba.
This statement was recorded while American media, first of all the Wall Street Journal newspaper, reported in the last few days to Beijing and Havana ‘secret’ deal to set up ‘spy base’ on Caribbean islandsome 160 kilometers off the coast of Florida, which will allow Beijing to gather information from the US.
John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, downplayed the WSJ report, saying “not accurate”.
But according to the official, who asked not to be named, the US government was informed after Joe Biden took office in 2021 how the China is making “efforts” to establish bases “all over the world”, particularly for intelligence gathering purposes.
These “efforts” include “the presence of China’s intelligence gathering facilities in Cuba”the official added, insisting that Beijing “upgraded” them in “2019” and that “this is on the files” of US intelligence agencies.
He pointed out how the Biden administration “inherited” this situation and is trying to react to Chinese basing plans internationally “with discretion and prudence”and through diplomatic channels, in its contacts with other countries.
The US government, according to the same source, has “slowed down” China’s plans to establish bases abroad, but “there are still challenges and we remain concerned” about its relationship with Cuba.
“China will continue to try to strengthen its presence in Cuba and we will continue to work to prevent it”he added.
The “slander” and “scenario” of the Americans “continue”, was the reaction of the Cuban government on Saturday, which already denied this week that there is a Chinese spy base on the island.
“They are encouraged by some media to harm and make noise, without observing the minimum rules of communication and without giving data or evidence to support what they spread”Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernando Cosio said via Twitter.
On Thursday, he called the US press reports “false and non-existent”, while the Chinese embassy in Washington accused US officials of spreading “rumours and slander” while it is the US government that constitutes an “empire” of electronic eavesdropping.
The case is particularly sensitive diplomatically, as the US president recently said he expects a “rewarming” of strained relations between Washington and Beijing and hinted at a possible meeting with his Chinese counterpart in the near or not-so-near future.
It could politically embarrass Joe Biden, who is campaigning for re-election. Republicans often accuse him of not being tough on China and Cuba.
The relationship between the two powers worsened in February after a US fighter jet shot down a Chinese hot air balloon high above US territory, with Washington saying it was for espionage purposes and Beijing denying that.
This episode led to the cancellation of a planned official visit to China by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. This visit has just been rescheduled for next Sunday June 18th.
Source: News Beast
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