[ This comes as no surprise to me. -- Sean]

From: https://tinyurl.com/yck8rzp3 (oann.com)

===
                 China pays billions to build spy base in Cuba

   OAN's Noah Herring
   2:53 PM - Thursday, June 8, 2023

   China has reached an agreement with Cuba that allows them to build an
   electronic eavesdropping facility on the island, according to U.S.
   officials who spoke with The Wall Street Journal. 

   The facility, around 100 miles from Florida, would allow the Chinese to
   pick up electronic communications throughout the southeastern U.S., where
   many military bases are located.

   Officials said that the facility would allow Beijing to monitor phone
   calls, emails, and satellite transmissions through espionage monitoring
   known as "SIGINT," and they would also be able to track and monitor ship
   traffic.  

   According to officials, China had agreed to pay Cuba, who is struggling
   for funds, several billion dollars to help the nation build the spy
   station on their land. 

   On Wednesday, John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council,
   said he could not comment on the details of the report, but noted that the
   U.S. is currently monitoring the situation and taking the necessary steps
   to counter the Chinese's effort to gain information and access. 

   After the release of the report on Thursday, Kirby suddenly backtracked,
   stating "This report is not accurate," without adding any more detail. He
   then stated, "We remain confident that we are able to meet all our
   security commitments at home and in the region." 

   These recent reports of a Chinese spy operation comes as the relationship
   between China and the U.S. has been deteriorating.

     "Well, what we're seeing is an unbelievable aggression by China, "House
     Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner said (R- Ohio). "If you look
     at the balloon that flew over the United States, the Chinese police
     stations, the aggressiveness against our both planes and ships in
     international water, it goes right to the heart of what President Xi
     said when he stood next to Putin in Russia, where he said, they're
     trying to make change that had not happened in 100 years."

   Some experts believe that this base is a chance for China to level the
   playing field as the U.S. has been reportedly growing a military presence
   in Taiwan.

     "Establishing this facility signals a new, escalatory phase in China's
     broader defense strategy. It's a bit of a game changer," said Craig
     Singleton, a senior at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

   The recent findings about the base has caused Republicans to continue
   criticizing the Biden administration and its dealings with China. 

     "Joe Biden needs to wake up to the real Chinese threats on our
     doorstep," Nikki Haley, a current Republican presidential candidate,
     wrote on Twitter.

     This month alone, China has harassed & threatened a U.S. fighter jet &
     naval ship. Now, it's putting a spy base in Cuba. President Biden is
     twiddling his thumbs, worrying about China's green energy policies. Joe
     Biden needs to wake up to the real Chinese threats on our doorstep.

     - Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) June 8, 2023

   Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) also took to Twitter, saying, "The threat to
   America from Cuba isn't just real, it is far worse than this."

     Issued a statement as Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on
     Intelligence w/ Chairman @MarkWarner after reports China & Cuba reached
     an agreement allowing China to establish an electronic eavesdropping
     facility on the island, less than 100 miles from
     FL.https://t.co/zF1uewIpL7 pic.twitter.com/6I5AVjFfQM

     - Senator Marco Rubio (@SenMarcoRubio) June 8, 2023

   Both the Chinese and Cuban Embassy declined to comment on the situation. 
===

-- Sean

... "Money has become the grand test of virtue." - George Orwell
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