Denials Surface over Wall Street Journal Report on Alleged Chinese Spy Base in Cuba

 

US Embassy in Cuba
Image Credit: Google

Multiple government sources in the Caribbean and the United States have dismissed a report published in the Wall Street Journal, which claimed that Beijing planned to establish a spy base in Cuba.

The article described an allegedly secret agreement between China and Cuba for the establishment of an electronic eavesdropping facility that would enable China to conduct signals intelligence and intercept data from the US.

However, government officials from various countries have denied the existence of such a base.

Wall Street Journal's Exclusive Report:

The New York-based newspaper published an exclusive report suggesting that China and Cuba had reached a secret agreement for the establishment of an electronic eavesdropping facility.

The report, citing unnamed US officials familiar with classified intelligence, claimed that the proposed base would allow China to conduct signals intelligence and intercept emails, phone calls, and other data from the US.

It further stated that China had agreed to pay Cuba several billion dollars for setting up the facility.

Denials from Government Sources:

Government officials from the United States and Cuba have refuted the claims made in the Wall Street Journal report.

The White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, dismissed the accuracy of the report without specifying the inaccuracies.

Similarly, a spokesperson for the US Defense Department, Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, stated that they were not aware of any development between China and Cuba for a new spy station.

In Havana, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio called the Journal's article "totally mendacious and unfounded," considering it a fabrication to justify the US economic embargo on Cuba.

Chinese Response:

The Chinese embassy in Washington stated that they were not aware of the alleged case and could not provide a comment at the moment.

No further details were provided regarding China's stance on the matter.

Reactions and Political Implications:

The report created ripples in the US political sphere, particularly among right-leaning figures.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley expressed concern over China's actions, citing recent incidents such as the harassment of a US fighter jet and naval ship.

Ohio Representative Jim Jordan blamed President Joe Biden for the alleged spy base and drew a comparison to a previous incident involving a Chinese spy balloon in US airspace earlier this year.

Potential Implications and Context:

The alleged spy base's reported purpose would be to gather electronic communications from the southeastern US, which houses numerous military bases, and monitor ship traffic.

The report also highlighted the US Central Command headquarters in Tampa and Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in North Carolina as significant locations.

The emergence of this news comes amid attempts to ease tensions between the US and China on various issues, including Taiwan, the South China Sea, human rights, and previous concerns over a suspected Chinese spy balloon.

Lastly:

Multiple government sources have denied the existence of a Chinese spy base in Cuba, refuting the claims made in the Wall Street Journal report.

The denials highlight the lack of awareness or evidence supporting the alleged agreement.

However, the report has sparked political reactions and raised concerns over China's activities in the region.

It remains to be seen how this development may impact ongoing discussions between the US and China on various geopolitical matters.

(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)