US Accuses China of Running Spy Bases in Cuba

The United States has accused China of operating three intelligence-gathering facilities in Cuba that monitor American military activities. A State Department report released Monday states that China maintains a "persistent intelligence-gathering presence" on the island. Cuba's location, about 90 miles from Florida, gives China potential access to US electronic communications, military installations, and maritime activity in the region. The report also says China has sharply increased its personnel in Cuba. This accusation comes amid growing tensions between Washington and Beijing over various issues, including technology and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. The US has long viewed Cuba as a platform for hostile intelligence operations, dating back to the Cold War with the Soviet Union. China and Cuba have denied the allegations, with Beijing calling them baseless and Havana dismissing them as lies. The US has not provided public evidence of the spy sites. The development could further strain US-Cuba relations, which have been tense under the Biden administration. The report does not specify the exact locations of the alleged facilities or what types of monitoring are being conducted. Experts say such allegations could escalate diplomatic friction between the US and China, especially if Washington takes further action. The US has not announced any specific measures in response to the report.