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A senior US
White House official has revealed that China has been operating an intelligence
unit in Cuba for several years and enhanced it in 2019, as part of Beijing's
global efforts to bolster its intelligence-gathering capabilities.
This statement
follows recent reports by The Wall Street Journal, which disclosed a secret
agreement between China and Cuba to establish an electronic eavesdropping
facility on the island, approximately 160km (100 miles) from the southern US
state of Florida.
China's
Intelligence Upgrade in Cuba:
According to
the senior US official, China's intelligence unit in Cuba has undergone an
upgrade in 2019, as documented in intelligence records.
The move is
part of China's broader strategy to strengthen its intelligence collection
facilities worldwide.
The ongoing
presence of the intelligence unit had been known to US authorities prior to the
upgrade.
Denial and
Accusations:
In response to
the reports, a spokesperson from China's embassy in Washington, DC referred to
a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry, accusing the US of spreading
rumors and slander.
The
spokesperson claimed that the US was the
"most powerful hacker empire in the world."
Meanwhile, the
Cuban government dismissed the allegations a
"slanderous speculation,"
emphasizing
their rejection of any foreign military presence in Latin America and the
Caribbean.
US-China Tensions
and Diplomatic Efforts:
The alleged
Chinese spying activities from Cuba have come to light amid efforts to ease
tensions between the US and China.
In February, a
suspected Chinese high-altitude spy balloon crossed the US mainland, leading to
its interception by the US military off the East Coast.
As part of
diplomatic initiatives, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is planning a trip
to China on June 18, after initially canceling the visit due to the spy balloon
incident.
US Response and
Progress:
The current US
administration acknowledges that the previous administration was aware of
China's basing efforts in Cuba and made some attempts to address the issue.
However, the
progress was deemed insufficient, leading to the adoption of a more direct
approach.
US diplomats
have engaged with governments considering hosting Chinese bases, exchanging
information in an effort to slow down China's activities.
The official
stated that the US believes China has not achieved its desired objectives in
this regard.
However, in
nutshell, China's upgrade of its intelligence unit in Cuba and the
establishment of an electronic eavesdropping facility have raised concerns
about China's global intelligence-gathering capabilities.
While China and
Cuba deny the allegations, the US considers these developments a significant
challenge and has taken diplomatic measures to address the situation.
The ongoing
tensions between the US and China highlight the complexities of their
relationship in the realm of intelligence and national security.
(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)
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