Pentagon officers on Thursday shot down information stories that China is getting ready to construct a spy station in Cuba, even because the claims gained traction on Capitol Hill and sparked an indignant response from lawmakers of each events.
Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder informed reporters the media accounts of a Chinese eavesdropping facility simply 100 miles from the Florida coast are “not accurate,” although he burdened that the U.S. is intently monitoring the China-Cuba relationship.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the alleged Chinese spy station, citing U.S. officers conversant in extremely categorized intelligence.
“I’ve seen that reporting. I can tell you based on the information we have that that is not accurate,” Gen. Ryder mentioned. “We are not aware of China and Cuba developing any type of spy station. Separately, I would say that [the] relationship that those two countries share is something we continuously monitor.”
“China’s activities, both in our hemisphere and around the world — any concerning activities — are something that we will continue to watch closely,” he mentioned. “But in terms of that particular report, no, it’s not accurate.”
The report in query maintained {that a} facility in Cuba would permit China to electronically snoop on U.S. communications within the southeastern a part of the United States, which is house to many key American army amenities.
Key lawmakers, who seized on the Wall Street Journal report and others that adopted it Thursday, urged the Biden administration to take motion to cease such a listening put up in Cuba.
“We are deeply disturbed by reports that Havana and Beijing are working together to target the United States and our people,” mentioned Sens. Mark Warner and Marco Rubio, chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
“The United States must respond to China’s ongoing and brazen attacks on our nation’s security,” Mr. Warner, Virginia Democrat, and Mr. Rubio, Florida Republican, mentioned in a joint assertion. “We must be clear that it would be unacceptable for China to establish an intelligence facility within 100 miles of Florida and the United States, in an area also populated with key military installations and extensive maritime traffic. We urge the Biden administration to take steps to prevent this serious threat to our national security and sovereignty.”
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