Congressional aides say the administration appears to be trying to avoid confirming the reports on the possible Cuba post, with Anthony Blinken’s trip in the balance and details of Beijing’s plans in Cuba still uncertain.
American government official and diplomata high-stakes visit to China by top U.S. diplomat Antony Blinken
“They are working hard to make sure this visit happens,” said one Western diplomat, who was not authorized to speak on the record. “And they don’t want to be drawn into difficult subjects.” “We have had real concerns about China’s relationship with Cuba, and we have been concerned since day one of the administration about China’s activities in our hemisphere and around the world,” Kirby told NBC News in a statement. “We are closely monitoring it and taking steps to counter it.”
Cuba dismissed the report of a planned Chinese listening post as “mendacious and baseless” and that Havana has committed since 2014 to opposing any foreign military presence in Latin America and the Caribbean. “We must be clear that it would be unacceptable for China to establish an intelligence facility within 100 miles of Florida and the United States, in an area also populated with key military installations and extensive maritime traffic,” Warner and Rubio said.
As the administration has made final preparations for Blinken’s trip in recent weeks, the Chinese and U.S. militaries have had two close calls in the western Pacific. The Pentagon says a Chinese fighter jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. military surveillance plane over the South China Sea on May 30. Days later, a Chinese naval ship came within 150 yards of an American destroyer in the Taiwan Strait, cutting across its bow. China rejected the Pentagon’s description and blamed the U.S.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Reported China spy base in Cuba poses 'imminent threat' to Americans, House Republican warns Biden adminRep. Carlos Gimenez warned Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and State Secretary Antony Blinken about China's reported planned spy base in Cuba.
Read more »
China to build spy base in Cuba, WSJ says; US and Cuba cast doubt on reportChina has reached a secret deal with Cuba to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island roughly 100 miles (160 km) from Florida, the Wall Street Journal said on Thursday, but the U.S. and Cuban governments cast strong doubt on the report.
Read more »
China to build spy base in Cuba, WSJ says; US and Cuba cast doubt on reportWASHINGTON/HAVANA (Reuters) -China has reached a secret deal with Cuba to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island roughly 100 miles (160 km) from Florida, the Wall Street Journal said on Thursday, but the U.S. and Cuban governments cast strong doubt on the report. Such a spy installation would allow Beijing to gather electronic communications from the southeastern U.S., which houses many U.S. military bases, as well as monitor ship traffic, the newspaper reported, citing U.S. officials familiar with classified intelligence.
Read more »
China using secret base in Cuba to spy on U.S., Biden admin official confirmsAfter initially calling reports “inaccurate,” an official says that the administration “inherited” the problem.
Read more »
Is the Biden administration downplaying China's plans for an eavesdropping post in Cuba?The Biden administration is trying to ensure a high-stakes visit to China by Blinken goes ahead as planned, but critics contend that the White House has repeatedly downplayed increasingly provocative actions by China in the process.
Read more »
Pentagon and White House deny reports that China plans to build spy station in CubaThe Pentagon and the White House on Thursday denied reports that China is planning to build a listening post in Cuba that would allow the communist power to eavesdrop on electronic communications a…
Read more »