China is reportedly expanding military surveillance sites in Cuba just miles from the U.S., prompting fears of Cold War-style espionage and urgent security reviews.
At a Glance
- Four sites in Cuba are potentially linked to Chinese military intelligence operations
- Bejucal — home to a new electronic antenna enclosure — is undergoing major upgrades
- Congress is preparing for a classified briefing on Chinese intelligence threats in the region
- Pentagon officials and analysts urge swift action to counter possible surveillance risks
Evidence Mounts of Chinese Presence
Recent satellite imagery has ignited U.S. intelligence concerns over suspected Chinese surveillance activity in Cuba. Military installations in Bejucal, Wajay, Calabazar, and El Salao are reportedly being outfitted with advanced antennas, radomes, and radar arrays. The Bejucal site—already infamous for its signal interception capacity—now boasts a new electronic antenna enclosure that experts say could enhance its reach deep into U.S. territory.
At El Salao, located disturbingly close to Guantanamo Bay, a vast new facility is under construction. The Center for Strategic and International Studies has analyzed these sites and flagged the developments as likely linked to Chinese intelligence operations, despite denials from Beijing and Havana.
Watch a report: China expanding spy bases in Cuba, new images show.
U.S. Response and Strategic Risk
The Pentagon has acknowledged the situation, with press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stating, “We’re confident that we can continue to meet our security commitments,” while confirming that officials are actively monitoring the build-ups. He added, “We know that the PRC is going to continue to try to enhance its presence in Cuba, and we will continue to keep working to disrupt that.”
In parallel, a bipartisan coalition in Congress is preparing for a classified intelligence briefing on the developments. A recent letter from House Republicans to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem warned that China’s activity in Cuba could enable “a forward operating base for electronic warfare” that threatens U.S. national interests.
Echoes of the Cold War
Bejucal’s newest additions include a circularly disposed antenna array—technology used for high-frequency signal direction finding—raising alarms about the site’s capacity to intercept satellite and military communications. Intelligence sources suggest China’s role in these enhancements dates back to at least 2019, drawing eerie parallels to Soviet-era operations that once turned Cuba into a frontline espionage hub.
Though China’s foreign ministry has dismissed the allegations as “malicious smearing,” concerns are growing that the PRC is laying the groundwork for a strategic presence in the Western Hemisphere. If left unchecked, experts warn, these bases could reshape the balance of surveillance power—right in America’s backyard.
