China and Cuba are in active conversations about creating a new joint military training facility close to the United States, authorities say.
A senior US official who requested anonymity told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that Beijing and Havana have been talking about what kind of training would take place at the facility, which would be located in Cuba, and what kind of leadership structure would look like. While Washington has been bringing the matter up to its Chinese and Cuban counterparts, it is unclear how far have China and Cuba gone regarding the deal.
Another anonymous official told the WSJ the US could not confirm the report or specifically comment about it.
The Journal added that American officials have been trying to dissuade Cuba from the deal by suggesting a Chinese base would threaten Cuba's sovereignty.
Previous reports detail the Chinese and Cubans have been talking about making a deal to build a spy base 100 miles (160.9km) from Florida. The Biden administration later admitted the Chinese have been operating a network of spy bases in the island nation since at least 2019.
We just learned that China is building a base in Cuba to spy on the U.S., yet @SecBlinken is going to China to find “areas of potential cooperation” with the Chinese.
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) June 16, 2023
This administration needs to confront the Chinese, not chase them for meetings. https://t.co/fUertGMWlN
US Officials Comment on Blinken's China Visit
The revelations come after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken visited China and met President Xi Jinping. While both men said the talks were fruitful, China refused to reestablish military-to-military communication like Washington wanted.
"I think it's absolutely vital that we have these kinds of communications, military to military," Blinked told reporters Monday (June 19). "That imperative, I think, was only underscored by recent incidents that we saw in the air and on the seas."
He also told reporters the US "does not support Taiwan[ese] independence" but remains "committed" to meeting its responsibilities under the Taiwan Relations Act, which included the assurance that Taiwan can defend itself should China attack the island.
Former Trump administration officials insisted they were unaware of the intelligence on the spy base while they were in office. However, former Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he would "not be surprised" by China's actions.
Meanwhile, US Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) criticized Blinken as a result of the Journal article, condemning his visit to China when they had been building spy bases near the US.
"This administration needs to confront the Chinese, not chase them for meetings," he said on Twitter.
China Denies Plans for a Base in Cuba
The proposed Chinese base in Cuba is part of its "Project 141," an effort by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to expand its global military footprint.
However, Chinese foreign affairs ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said her country is not aware of the alleged deal between Beijing and Havana. "We hope that the relevant parties will focus their energy on things that benefit mutual trust-building," she said.
