[ This comes as no surprise to me. -- Sean]
From:
https://tinyurl.com/yck8rzp3 (oann.com)
===
China pays billions to build spy base in Cuba
OAN's Noah Herring
2:53 PM - Thursday, June 8, 2023
China has reached an agreement with Cuba that allows them to build an
electronic eavesdropping facility on the island, according to U.S.
officials who spoke with The Wall Street Journal.
The facility, around 100 miles from Florida, would allow the Chinese to
pick up electronic communications throughout the southeastern U.S., where
many military bases are located.
Officials said that the facility would allow Beijing to monitor phone
calls, emails, and satellite transmissions through espionage monitoring
known as "SIGINT," and they would also be able to track and monitor ship
traffic.
According to officials, China had agreed to pay Cuba, who is struggling
for funds, several billion dollars to help the nation build the spy
station on their land.
On Wednesday, John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council,
said he could not comment on the details of the report, but noted that the
U.S. is currently monitoring the situation and taking the necessary steps
to counter the Chinese's effort to gain information and access.
After the release of the report on Thursday, Kirby suddenly backtracked,
stating "This report is not accurate," without adding any more detail. He
then stated, "We remain confident that we are able to meet all our
security commitments at home and in the region."
These recent reports of a Chinese spy operation comes as the relationship
between China and the U.S. has been deteriorating.
"Well, what we're seeing is an unbelievable aggression by China, "House
Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner said (R- Ohio). "If you look
at the balloon that flew over the United States, the Chinese police
stations, the aggressiveness against our both planes and ships in
international water, it goes right to the heart of what President Xi
said when he stood next to Putin in Russia, where he said, they're
trying to make change that had not happened in 100 years."
Some experts believe that this base is a chance for China to level the
playing field as the U.S. has been reportedly growing a military presence
in Taiwan.
"Establishing this facility signals a new, escalatory phase in China's
broader defense strategy. It's a bit of a game changer," said Craig
Singleton, a senior at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
The recent findings about the base has caused Republicans to continue
criticizing the Biden administration and its dealings with China.
"Joe Biden needs to wake up to the real Chinese threats on our
doorstep," Nikki Haley, a current Republican presidential candidate,
wrote on Twitter.
This month alone, China has harassed & threatened a U.S. fighter jet &
naval ship. Now, it's putting a spy base in Cuba. President Biden is
twiddling his thumbs, worrying about China's green energy policies. Joe
Biden needs to wake up to the real Chinese threats on our doorstep.
- Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) June 8, 2023
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) also took to Twitter, saying, "The threat to
America from Cuba isn't just real, it is far worse than this."
Issued a statement as Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on
Intelligence w/ Chairman @MarkWarner after reports China & Cuba reached
an agreement allowing China to establish an electronic eavesdropping
facility on the island, less than 100 miles from
FL.
https://t.co/zF1uewIpL7 pic.twitter.com/6I5AVjFfQM
- Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) June 8, 2023
Both the Chinese and Cuban Embassy declined to comment on the situation. ===
-- Sean
... "Money has become the grand test of virtue." - George Orwell
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