A recent research report based on images captured from space indicates that electronic surveillance stations in Cuba are expanding. US analysts have identified four surveillance stations, including a newly constructed one about 70 miles from the Guantanamo Bay US Navy base, which are said to be linked to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington published this research report following last year’s reports of talks between the CCP and Cuba to establish closer defense and intelligence ties.
Previously, reports claimed that Cuba and the CCP were jointly operating eavesdropping stations on the island. Analysts expressed concerns that these surveillance stations, due to Cuba’s proximity to the southeastern United States, could be used by the CCP to intercept sensitive electronic communications related to US military bases, space launch facilities, military and commercial shipping.
Leland Lazarus, an expert on China-Latin America relations at Florida International University, suggested that CCP facilities on the island could also enhance China’s ability to monitor American citizens through telecommunications networks.
The authors of the CSIS report, after analyzing years of satellite images, found that Cuba has significantly upgraded and expanded its electronic espionage facilities in recent years, pinpointing four locations: Bejucal, El Salao, Wajay, and Calabazar.
While these locations had been previously identified as monitoring stations by CSIS, the latest satellite imagery provides insights into the capabilities of these stations, their development over the years, and new details possibly linking them to the CCP.
Matthew Funaiole, a senior fellow at CSIS and the main author of the report, stated, “These sites are highly active, and their missions are constantly evolving.”
For decades, Washington has been attempting to prevent competitors from gaining military and economic advantages in these regions.
In February of this year, the US intelligence community publicly stated for the first time in its annual threat assessment report that the CCP is seeking to establish military facilities in Cuba.
Chinese officials emphasized that the US possesses a vast global network of military bases and surveillance stations. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, wrote in a statement, “The United States is undoubtedly the world’s number one player in eavesdropping, not even sparing its allies. The US has repeatedly alleged that China is establishing spy bases or engaging in surveillance activities in Cuba.”
The report indicates that two locations near Havana, Bejucal and Calabazar, have large dish antennas used for monitoring satellites and satellite communications. The report highlights that Cuba lacks its own satellites, making these antennas valuable for the CCP, given their extensive space program.
Funaiole believes that upon completion, this base could potentially monitor communications and other electronic signals from the Guantanamo Bay base. He noted that the US and Russia have largely phased out such antenna arrays in favor of updated technology, whereas the CCP has been constructing similar arrays in several militarized outposts in the South China Sea.