In a move that underscores the growing concern over China's increasing global influence, two key House committees have urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide a classified briefing on the potential threat posed by suspected Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spy installations in Cuba.
This information was revealed in a letter exclusively obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
The letter, dispatched by the House Homeland Security Committee and House Select Committee on the CCP, was addressed to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. It called for an official threat assessment concerning at least four signals intelligence (SIGINT) installations that the Chinese government is believed to be setting up, or has already established, in Cuba.
According to Conservative Daily News, these alleged Chinese spy installations are alarmingly close to the U.S. coast, a mere 90 miles away. This proximity places them in a strategic position to intercept sensitive intelligence from key U.S. locations such as the Kennedy Space Center, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
The letter was endorsed by five Republican representatives, including House Homeland Security Committee chairman Mark Green of Tennessee, Select Committee on the CCP chairman John Moolenaar of Michigan, and representatives Carlos Gimenez of Florida, Sheri Biggs of South Carolina, and Eli Crane of Arizona. "It is vital for Congress to have the necessary information to counter the growing threat of the CCPs intelligence operations just 90 miles from the homeland,
Green stated. He further expressed concern about the increasing political and economic ties between the CCP and the Cuban regime, especially as Beijing continues to develop capabilities to wage electronic and information warfare that directly undermines U.S. national security.
The suspected Chinese spy installations are primarily located around Cubas capital, Havana, in nearby Bejucal, Wajay, and Calabazar, as per a July 2024 report from the Center For Strategic & International Studies. A fourth site is reportedly situated on the southeast corner of the island, in the neighborhood of El Salao within Santiago de Cuba. The letter warns that these developments pose significant security risks across the air, space, and maritime domains. It further states that China, through these installations, is positioning itself to systematically erode U.S. strategic advantages without resorting to direct military confrontation.
These installations have shown signs of development in recent years, with the Bejucal base now featuring a circular disposed antenna array and repositioned satellite dishes, indicating a focus on long-range, wideband electromagnetic surveillance. The letter asserts that these developments reflect China's deliberate expansion of its surveillance infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere, signaling a long-term investment in asymmetric capabilities near U.S. shores.
China has been a significant financial ally to Cuba, providing nearly $8 billion since 2000 to fund various infrastructure projects across the island. These include a sprawling telecommunications network built by Huawei and Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation, both of which have been sanctioned by the U.S. government for their roles in global surveillance and repression.
The U.S. government has imposed several sanctions on these companies, including a November 2022 ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prohibiting U.S. sales and imports of equipment from both companies, citing an unacceptable risk to national security. The integration of these technologies into Cubas digital infrastructure raises the specter of regional communications exposure to Chinese government-linked platforms.
In response to China's growing presence in Cuba, the committee's letter requests a classified briefing from DHS and written responses to five questions related to the departments analysis of the suspected Chinese installations and its ongoing countermeasures. The letter seeks a general overview of DHSs current assessment of Chinas intelligence-gathering operations in Cuba and details on known or suspected infrastructure developments at the suspected sites.
The letter also inquires about DHS's coordination efforts with entities inside and outside of the U.S. government to counter the suspected threat. It specifically asks about the extent and effectiveness of DHSs interagency coordination efforts, particularly with the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, and the Department of State, to monitor, analyze, and counter Chinas intelligence and security activities in Cuba.
The Department of Defense has previously stated that China is the only competitor to the United States with the intent and, increasingly, the capacity to reshape the international order. Chinese espionage has expanded rapidly in the U.S. during the Biden administration, with at least 59 CCP-related criminal cases occurring between February 2021 and August 2024, according to a House Committee On Homeland Security China Threat Snapshot first reported in October 2024.
The letter concludes with a stark warning: if left unchecked, Chinas activities in Cuba could establish a forward operating base for electronic warfare, enable intelligence collection, and influence operations that directly undermine U.S. national security interests. This situation underscores the need for a vigilant and proactive approach to safeguarding national security in the face of evolving global threats.
Login