On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the United States government would have "deep concerns" over Chinese military activities in Cuba following a meeting with Beijing officials.
The American official's remarks came after a report claiming Beijing is planning to construct a new training facility in the Caribbean.
Blinken Warns Against Chinese Military Activities in Cuba
During a press conference held in London following a diplomatic trip to Beijing, Blinken said that he made it clear to his Chinese counterparts that the American government would have deep concerns about PRC intelligence or military activities in Cuba.
The secretary of state added that the situation was something that the American government would be monitoring very closely, adding that they would continue to protect their homeland and its interests.
On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal, the first to report about the new training facility, cited current and former US officials. It said that the Asian nation and the Caribbean were negotiating to establish a joint military training facility on the island that could lead to Chinese troops being stationed roughly 100 miles off the coast of Florida, as per Reuters.
The media outlet added that the discussions for the facility were already at an advanced stage but noted that they had yet to conclude. Furthermore, it notes that United States President Joe Biden's administration has already contacted Cuban authorities to stop the deal from being finalized.
Last week, Washington said that it made its concerns clear to Cuban authorities regarding hosting Chinese spy operations. Furthermore, the American government has suspected for a while now that Beijing has been conducting an intelligence gathering operation in a village located near Havana, which is found on Cuba's northern coast.
On the other hand, the Chinese government has denied accusations that it was using Cuba as a base for spy operations. The latter added that the only military incursion within its territory is the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, which is under the control of the United States.
Potential Spy Base in Cuba
According to CNN, one of the sources that confirmed reports about the situation said that if the deal was finalized, the facility in Cuba could host as many as several hundred troops of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Now, the intelligence about the issue is being perceived by some who have seen it as China's supposed response to the United States military's activities in Taiwan. The self-governing island nation is the same distance from mainland China as Cuba is from Florida.
In February, there were reports that the US was planning to increase the number of its troops training Taiwanese forces. Furthermore, a senior administration official said they could not confirm or comment on reports about the facility specifically.
China has long been trying to influence the global order, not only by simply challenging the economic and military leadership of the United States. This was also shown by Beijing seeking to prevent the spread of the democratic model that it, and its ally, Russia, oppose, such as Taiwan and Ukraine, said the Miami Herald.