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During his two-day visit to Beijing, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed concerns about China’s alleged electronic spying facilities in Cuba. The mission aimed to stabilize the turbulent relations between the two powers.
In an interview with CBS television, Blinken revealed that he discussed the issue of Chinese spying operations in Cuba with top officials. When asked about their response, he stated, “I did. I won’t elaborate on their response, but I made it clear that this is a significant concern for us.”
Recently, The Wall Street Journal reported a tentative deal between Beijing and Havana for a new electronic eavesdropping facility in Cuba, located approximately 350km from Florida. Although the Biden administration initially disputed the report, they later confirmed that China had indeed been conducting electronic espionage from Cuba since at least 2019.
On Tuesday, spokesperson for the National Security Council, John Kirby, acknowledged that China had been trying to enhance its intelligence gathering capabilities in the western hemisphere, including its long-standing relationship with Cuba. This development has raised concerns within the US, particularly due to China’s expansion of operations overseas. Earlier this year, Sino-US relations were strained when a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over North America for about a week and appeared to monitor sensitive military facilities along its route.
The administration refrained from commenting on a separate report by The Wall Street Journal, which claimed that China and Cuba are negotiating the opening of a joint training facility on the island. However, an administration official expressed concerns about China’s longstanding activities with Cuba while also stating their commitment to disrupt and counteract any attempts by China to enhance its presence in the region.
In response to US criticism, Beijing has pointed out that American spy planes regularly fly in international waters close to the Chinese coast, conducting electronic surveillance on Chinese military facilities. Blinken, during his interview with CBS, highlighted that the US has been taking actions in recent years to push back against Chinese spying operations in Latin America. He emphasized the seriousness of the issue and the US’ determination to halt such activities.
Blinken’s visit to Beijing included meetings with President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Qin Gang, and top diplomat Wang Yi. Both Blinken and Xi acknowledged the progress made in stabilizing relations between the two countries. This visit comes after a delay of four months, as Blinken had initially planned to travel to Beijing following an agreement reached by Biden and Xi in Bali in November, which aimed to establish a “floor” for the relationship between the two powers. The original trip was canceled due to the spy balloon incident.
Additional reporting by Felicia Schwartz
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