A Biden administration official has confirmed that China has been operating a spy base in Cuba that can intercept electronic signals from nearby US military and commercial buildings, The New York Times reported.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence, said that the spy base was an issue that the Biden administration had inherited from former US President Donald Trump and that it had been upgraded in 2019 or earlier.
The official claimed that the administration had slowed China’s plans, but did not provide details.
The official also said that the Biden administration was aware of China’s plans to set up similar facilities around the world and that it had been engaging diplomatically with nations that Beijing was pursuing as potential hosts for such bases.
The revelation of the spy base comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Beijing over a range of issues, including trade, human rights, Taiwan and the South China Sea.
The spy base also raises questions about Cuba’s relations with the US, which have deteriorated under Trump and have not improved under Biden.
US Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, the panel’s top Republican, said they were “deeply disturbed” by the reports of the spy base and called for a “swift and strong response” from the Biden administration.
The US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby denied earlier reports that claimed that Cuba and China were working together to target the US and its people, but said that the US had “real concerns” about China’s ties with Cuba and its activities in the region and around the world.
China has not commented on the reports of the spy base. The Chinese foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.