Satellite images show growing Chinese military presence in Cuba: CSIS

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (NewsNation) — New satellite images released Monday have renewed concern over China‘s growing presence in Cuba, reigniting fears that President Xi Jinping’s forces are using the island to spy on American military bases.

The new report comes a year after the Biden administration accused China of upgrading Cuban intelligence bases for years — one of those bases just over 50 miles from a U.S. military base in Guantanamo Bay.

Closer look: Satellite images of Chinese military bases in Cuba

The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) published these satellite images, showing the latest upgrade to the country’s surveillance capabilities that are believed to be linked to China. The report focuses on the fact China has access to multiple spy facilities in Cuba — pinpointing four sites across the island.

Why’s that such a big deal? Well, the CSIS says it could allow China to scoop up sensitive electronic communications from American military bases, keep an eye on rocket launches from Cape Canaveral and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and spy on American’s sensitive information, too.

First, there were Chinese spy balloons in the sky; second, there were reports of Chinese companies scooping up farmland, often near US military bases; and now, these reports. The report claims it’s even more of an indication Washington’s top strategic rival is trying to keep tabs on the U.S.

Cuba denies harboring claims

NewsNation reached out to the White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence but hasn’t heard back yet.

However, Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio blasted a Wall Street Journal’s report on social media, calling it an “intimidation campaign” and denied Cuba was harboring Chinese military interests on the island.

In this year’s annual threat assessment, U.S. intelligence officials said publicly that China is pursuing military facilities in Cuba, but didn’t go into much detail. Such signals intelligence was used heavily by Russia and the U.S. during the Cold War in Cuba, but the CSIS said China had been actively building new electronic spying sites.

China has recently increased its presence in the Western Hemisphere, including in the Caribbean.

Last year, Biden administration officials said Beijing has been spying from Cuba and upgraded its intelligence collection facilities there in 2019 — allegations that both Beijing and Havana have denied.