In a bombshell investigation, images of advanced spy bases in Cuba were revealed, with Rep. Carlos Gimenez from Florida expressing concerns about China’s involvement in the construction and operation of these bases. The bipartisan Center for Strategic and International Studies released imagery of the bases, highlighting China’s secretive activity in the region. Gimenez raised counterintelligence concerns, given the proximity of his district to several sensitive U.S. installations, including the Key West Naval Air Station and the Homestead Air Force Base. He criticized the Biden administration for not taking stronger action against the growing influence of China and Russia in the hemisphere, advocating for a policy of regime change in Cuba.
Another Florida representative, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, attributed Biden’s perceived weakness to the proliferation of Chinese Communist Party influence offshore. She called for a stronger response from America to prevent the Cuban regime from escalating tensions in the region. Gimenez warned that the spy bases in Cuba could allow China to observe U.S. military exercises, potentially giving them insight into U.S. responses to various scenarios, such as an invasion of Taiwan. Researchers from CSIS identified four sites supporting Chinese efforts to spy on the U.S. using signals intelligence, a core component of spycraft.
Former Deputy National Security Adviser Victoria Coates highlighted China’s expansion into places like Cuba and the Bahamas as part of its efforts to interfere in America’s sphere of influence. She criticized the Biden administration for not responding to China’s actions in Cuba and expressed concern about the security of the American people in the hemisphere. Gimenez, the only Cuban-born congressman, expressed hope that Cuba would rid itself of Chinese and Russian influence, drawing parallels to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. He suggested that if former President Trump returned to office in 2025, there could be potential for change in U.S. policy towards Cuba.
Gimenez criticized Secretary of State Antony Blinken for acting counter to American interests during the Biden administration, calling him the worst secretary of state in American history. He expressed disappointment in the administration’s response to the Chinese spy bases in Cuba. The State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel refrained from commenting on the specifics of the report but assured that the U.S. would meet its security commitments in the region. Senator Roger Marshall raised concerns about China’s espionage activities in the U.S., emphasizing the need for accountability from the Biden administration.
Despite concerns from lawmakers like Gimenez and Marshall, the office of Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and the White House did not respond to queries about the Chinese spy bases in Cuba. The lack of response from Democrat lawmakers indicated a partisan divide on the issue. Calls for a stronger stance against Chinese influence in the region and a reevaluation of U.S. policy towards Cuba were made, with concerns over national security and potential threats posed by the spy bases highlighted by various officials. Gimenez and other lawmakers underscored the urgency of addressing China’s encroachment in America’s backyard to safeguard national interests.
