Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., is urging the Biden administration to address the “imminent threat” to Americans amid reports that China secured a secret deal to establish a listening station in Cuba to target Americans. (Photo: Fox News)
Metropolis Desk-
According to the Wall Street Journal on Thursday and US sources familiar with classified data, China and Cuba have established a covert agreement to build an electronic spying center on the island around 100 miles (160 km) away from Florida.
According to the publication, such a station would provide Beijing the ability to gather electronic communications from the southeast US, which is home to major US military sites, and to keep an eye on ship activity. According to the officials, there is a general understanding between the nations, and China will pay Cuba “several billion dollars” to allow the eavesdropping station.
When contacted for comment on the report, the White House did not respond right away. Also failing to reply right away to requests for comment were the Chinese and Cuban embassies in Washington. According to the publication, the deal poses a fresh threat in the country’s backyard and has alarmed the Biden administration. The rumored agreement comes as Washington and Beijing make modest moves to reduce tensions that increased after a suspected Chinese high-altitude spy balloon violated the US border. Ahead of the US military shooting it down off the East Coast.
In Cuba, where the economy is sputtering due to inflation, gasoline shortages, declining farm productivity, and a cash crunch that continues to drag on output and foment anger in the communist-run island nation, a financial influx would probably be welcomed. The Journal reported that credible information regarding the plans for a Cuba station had been collected recently. According to the officials, it would permit China to conduct signals intelligence operations, including satellite transmission, emails, and phone calls. Florida’s Tampa is home to the US Central Command’s main office. The largest US military installation, Fort Liberty, previously Fort Bragg, is located in North Carolina.
Source – Times of India
