Satellite images suspect Chinese Spy Stations in Cuba
- In Reports
- 10:18 PM, Jul 03, 2024
- Myind Staff
According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), recently satellite images have revealed four suspected Chinese spy stations in Cuba, signaling Beijing's strategic encroachment bordering U.S. territory. These 'electronic eavesdropping' facilities, located just 100 miles from the Florida coast, could allow China to gather large amounts of data from U.S. military bases, space launches, and commercial shipping.
The surveillance stations, located around Havana and in the southeast near the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, improve Beijing’s ability to monitor American activities and possibly spy on U.S. citizens. The CSIS detailed three sites around Havana and one in the southeast, emphasising their strategic importance just 70 miles from Guantanamo Bay.
This discovery follows a warning from White House officials last year about China's covert operations on the Caribbean Island amid talks between Cuba and China to establish a joint military training facility. The CSIS report underscores Havana's suitability for China’s surveillance due to the concentration of U.S. military operations along the southeastern seaboard, which includes bases, command headquarters, space launch centers, and military testing sites.
"Collecting data on activities like military exercises, missile tests, rocket launches, and submarine maneuvers would allow China to develop a more sophisticated picture of U.S. military practice," the CSIS noted.
The analysis found two significant surveillance sites near Havana, in Bejucal and Calabazar, equipped with large dish antennas likely used for satellite monitoring and communication. Bejucal, in particular, is believed to be the largest active surveillance site in Cuba, historically linked to Soviet intelligence activities and now upgraded with a radome to obscure its specifications. The Wajay facility nearby, with its security fencing and guard posts, hints at its use for military or sensitive activities. The site has expanded over two decades, growing from a small antenna setup to a robust complex. The CSIS report mentioned unconfirmed rumours of Chinese involvement in its construction or modernisation.
In Calabazar, a smaller military complex hosts over a dozen dish antennas, while on the opposite side of Cuba, a new spy station near El Salao provides a strategic vantage point close to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The construction of this facility began in 2021, featuring a large circularly disposed antenna array (CDAA) with the potential to track signals from 3,000 to 8,000 nautical miles away.
Cuba was a hub for Soviet electronic spying, with the Lourdes site near Havana being the largest during the Cold War. In recent years, China has increased its presence on the island. The U.S. intelligence community's annual threat assessment in February verified Beijing's pursuit of military facilities in Cuba.
Denying these allegations, Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for China's embassy in Washington, accused the U.S. of being the "leading power in terms of eavesdropping" and dismissed claims of Chinese surveillance activities in Cuba.
This development raises concerns about Beijing's expanding operations in Latin America and the Caribbean. Since 2005, Chinese state banks have loaned $136 billion to Latin American countries, with terms that U.S. officials describe as a 'spiralling trap'.
Additionally, China is constructing a mega port on Peru's Pacific coast, further solidifying its influence in the region. The Cuban embassy, the White House, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have been approached for comments on these findings.
Image source: Getty Images
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