China is in talks with Cuba about establishing a joint military training facility on the Caribbean island. Soon after Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned from China, reports from the Wall Street Journal came out about the communist superpower possibly establishing itself 100 miles off Florida’s coast.
Blinken, at a press conference on Monday after his meeting with Chinese officials, said:
We’ve been taking steps over the past couple of years, diplomatically, wherever we’ve seen China trying to create that kind of presence. It is something of real concern. I was very clear about our concerns with China.
China and Cuba already jointly shared four intelligence-gathering facilities on the island for the purpose of spying on America since 2019, the White House revealed. However, the added possibility of a military training facility means China could bring its own troops to America’s doorstep. (READ MORE: China Betrays Its True Weakness — Despite Blinken’s Obeisance)
As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the planned operation would fall under China’s “Project 141,” which seeks to establish military bases and an intelligence apparatus across the globe. However, none of these bases have been established in the Western Hemisphere, making Cuba the first potential host for such a base in this part of the globe.
American intelligence officials are urging caution, saying that it is “premature to draw firm conclusions about recent reporting.” They suggest that Cuba is moving slowly on any negotiations with China, as it currently seeks to avoid severe repercussions from America. The Cuban economy continues to struggle with American sanctions, and the country is seeking to have some of the sanctions eased.
Chinese and Cuban officials have denied such reports, according to the Wall Street Journal.
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “We hope that relevant parties can focus more on things that are conducive to enhancing mutual trust and regional peace and stability development.”
Likewise, Cuba’s Washington embassy called the reports “totally mendacious and unfounded.”
The news comes after Blinken’s trip to China, which included a sit-down with President Xi Jinping. At that meeting, he emphasized America’s insistence on the status quo in Taiwan.
In a Monday press conference, Blinken stated: “We do not support Taiwan independence. We remain opposed to any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side.”
Taiwan, which sits roughly 100 miles from China’s coast, has increasingly become a focus in American military relations.
Earlier this year, America increased its troop presence in Taiwan to over 100 personnel. China has denounced America’s position on Taiwan and continues its rhetoric of restoring the island to the CCP’s control.
Brayden Dean is a rising senior at the University of Georgia. He is studying international relations and political science with a minor in law, jurisprudence, and state. A member of The American Spectator’s intern class of 2023, Brayden enjoys sipping a hot cup of coffee while reading a book.