Washington-based think tank, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), has released satellite images of Cuba, depicting locations where it believes China is most likely to have electronic intelligence gathering bases.
Knewz.com has learned that this follows a statement by the Joe Biden administration alleging Chinese activity in the Caribbean territory.
The CSIS report states:
“Sitting less than 100 miles south of Florida, Cuba is well positioned to keep watch on sensitive communications and activities in the region, including those of the U.S. military.”
The reason for the latter is the abundance of immovable U.S. assets on America’s southeastern seaboard like “military bases, combatant command headquarters, space launch centers, and military testing sites.”
This is not the first time Cuba has accommodated an aggressive state’s clandestine interests.
A CIA document made available for public viewing indicates that during the Cold War, the Soviet Union commandeered a 16,404-square-foot complex dedicated to spying on the U.S.
![The Bejucal SIGINT facility](https://knewz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02/The-Al-Salao-CDDA-facility-1.jpg)
In the context of the latter, CSIS applied its efforts to find the likeliest sites for the ultra-secretive Chinese bases and came up with four locations.
The first—the Bejucal Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) site is on a hill overlooking the country’s capital, Havana, and dates back to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
On the opposite side of the island is the relatively new El Salao SIGINT complex. Thus far there have been numerous corroborated assertions of Chinese elements being encamped at the location.
Number three on CSIS’s list is the Wajay SIGINT complex. This site comprises 12 antennas and has been gradually expanded upon since it was first built in 2002.
The fourth location is proximal to the town of Calabazar and adjoins a small military complex.
![The Calabazar SIGINT facility](https://knewz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02/The-Calabazar-SIGINT-facility.jpg)
CSIS warns that it does not have intelligence on the four locations but notes that these facilities are significant in that they all contain space monitoring equipment while Cuba does not have a space program.
“Even limited access to this equipment would provide China a far greater ability to monitor and communicate with its own space assets passing above the other side of the globe,” the report notes.
Substantiating the possibility of the satellites belonging to a foreign entity like China, CSIS noted:
“Like the United States, Russia, and Europe, China operates a global network of ground stations from which it can conduct telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) on its satellites and spacecraft.”
![The Wayjay SIGINT site](https://knewz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/02/The-Wayjay-SIGINT-site.jpg)
As a nod to Cuba’s standing in world affairs and its role in the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, it recently welcomed a Russian flotilla of naval assets to the port of Havana.
The arrival of a missile cruiser and the nuclear Submarine coincided with a spike in tension between the U.S. and Russia due to the White House’s involvement in the Ukraine war.
China has also entertained Russia, hosted Vladimir Putin, and boycotted the West’s overtures regarding the Ukraine war.
The post Satellite Images Show China Expanding its Spy Bases in Cuba; U.S. Officials Suspect Joint Espionage Effort appeared first on Knewz.
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Author: Dave Malyon
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