China and Cuba have secretly reached an agreement to place eavesdropping devices in Cuba, writes the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). China would like to spy on the United States and pay several billions to Cuba in return.
The newspaper relies on US officials who have access to classified information. They claim the deal is almost certain, but a White House spokesman says the whole story is incorrect.
Military bases
The installation of eavesdropping devices would allow the Chinese to intercept electronic communications in the southeastern United States, where many military bases are located, according to the WSJ. Analysts tell the WSJ that Beijing would likely want to make the move as a countermeasure to the US presence close to China. For example, the Americans would also be able to intercept China with their surveillance flights over the South China Sea.
The already chilled relationship between China and the US worsened earlier this year when a Chinese spy balloon surfaced over US territory. The Americans shot the balloon out of the sky, but China insists it wasn’t necessary because it was an off-course weather balloon.
Cuban Missile Crisis
The US government is reportedly concerned about the news because Cuba is so close to the US, about 140 miles from Florida. Remember the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, when the Soviet Union wanted to place nuclear missiles on the island. The John F. Kennedy administration then intervened with a naval blockade around Cuba. Biden has tried to strengthen ties with Cuba in recent years, but the government in Havana also has an increasingly strong relationship with Beijing.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
