US officials call reports of China plan to build a spy facility in Cuba ‘not accurate’
- Denials of imminent threat to national security cap a day marked by fresh calls in Washington for tougher stance against Beijing
- ‘We are not aware of China and Cuba developing any type of spy stations,’ says Pentagon spokesman
The White House and Pentagon called media reports on Thursday of Chinese plans to build a spy facility in Cuba inaccurate, capping a day in which new concerns about national security threats emanating from Beijing sparked calls for a harder line against the country.
Beijing was said to have offered Havana cash payments on the order of “several billion” US dollars to be able to build the facility, according to The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the “secret” agreement citing US officials familiar with the plan.
The Journal and CNN both said US officials had learned of Beijing’s agreement with Havana in recent weeks and that it was not clear whether construction on the facility had begun.
Such an outpost would be situated about 100 miles from Florida, theoretically enabling China to monitor a range of communications, including emails, phone calls and satellite transmissions across the southeastern US, where many military bases are located.
On Thursday, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said that “based on the information that we have … we are not aware of China and Cuba developing any type of spy stations”.
