China is reportedly constructing a new military spy base in Cuba, according to The Wall Street Journal, which shared information originally published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Former U.S. officials have warned that China may use Cuba’s proximity to the United States to “scoop up sensitive electronic communications from American military bases, space-launch facilities, and military and commercial shipping,” WSJ reported.
The outlet published satellite images of the alleged Chinese sites, located about 70 miles from the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay.
CSIS reported that if China has the ability to conduct surveillance operations in Cuba, it would have a “significant intelligence window inaccessible from within Chinese territory.”
Several of the surveillance facilities CSIS uncovered are located in El Salao, Bejucal, Wajay, and Calabazar.
Bejucal is the “largest active SIGINT site” analyzed by CSIS.
The SIGINT, or signals intelligence, complex in El Salao is the newest site. Construction on this location reportedly began in 2021. This specific site would “serve as a powerful tool for enhancing air and maritime domain awareness in the region, where the U.S. military and its international partners operate regularly,” the analysis explained.
The SIGINT site in Wajay has “gradually expanded over the past 20 years,” CSIS added. “It now hosts 12 antennas of various sizes and orientations, significant operations and support facilities, and even a small solar farm.”
More than a dozen dish antennas, the latest of which was placed in 2016, are located in Calabazar.
American Faith reported earlier this year that China has also expanded its influence over Antigua, located 220 miles outside the U.S. Virgin Islands.
A spokesperson for the Florida-based Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) told Newsweek that it is “aware that China may use its commercial and diplomatic presence for military purposes.”
“In Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, China has already abused commercial agreements at host-country ports for military aims; our concern is they may do the same in this region,” the spokesperson said.
