The leaders of the House and Senate Foreign Affairs committees have asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CIA Director William Burns for a classified briefing on the basis of espionage. that the Chinese regime has established in Cuba.
Congressman Michael McCaul and Senator Bob Menendez said they were deeply alarmed at the national security implications of the Chinese Communist Party’s growing military and intelligence capabilities 90 miles off the coast of the United States.
McCaul, a Texas Republican, and Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat, said the American public needs to be sure their administration unequivocally condemns this escalation and is working to do everything in its power to counter it.
This is the full text of the letter:
“We write to express our alarm at recent reports that the Cuban regime and the People’s Republic of China have colluded to establish a deeply troubling military and intelligence partnership less than 100 miles from our shores.”
“Congress and the American public deserve clarity on the national security implications of this direct provocation by our adversaries, and the concrete steps the Administration plans to take in response.”
“While reporting on this topic continues to develop, the American public now knows that since at least 2019, Cuba and the PRC have worked to develop PRC intelligence capability in Cuba that can at least monitor and intercept communications in the southeastern United States, potentially targeting military bases in the region, US maritime traffic in the Caribbean, and sensitive and private American-to-American communications. This is unacceptable”.
“We are not surprised that the Cuban regime, which has historically opened its doors to foreign adversaries of the United States, and the People’s Republic of China are working together to undermine the national security of the United States. However, the establishment of intelligence facilities and the expansion of military ties so close to US soil is a significant step that escalates the situation.”
“The American public needs to be sure that their administration unequivocally condemns this escalation and is working to do everything in its power to counter it. While we understand the sensitive nature of this matter, Congress also requires greater transparency and clarity about these developments. In order for us to fulfill our constitutional oversight duties as chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees, as well as duties as representatives of the American people, it is imperative that we fully understand: the nature exact and objectives of the intelligence gathering of the People’s Republic of China in Cuba and the military association with the regime; the implications of such efforts for the national interests of the United States; and what the Biden administration is doing to mitigate such efforts and deter their further expansion into Cuba and the Western Hemisphere.”
“We specifically request that the Department of State and the Central Intelligence Agency provide a classified report to our committees, no later than July 14, 2023, regarding the following questions:
- What is the nature and extent of the PRC’s current collection, base and logistics infrastructure, including intelligence gathering infrastructure, inside Cuba? Where is the infrastructure located? Please describe in detail the operation of this infrastructure, including if it works jointly with the Cuban regime and the People’s Republic of China.
- How long has the People’s Republic of China had an operational logistics, base and collection infrastructure established in Cuba? When did the US government first raise the issue of these PRC activities in Cuba with the Cuban regime and the Chinese government?
- The Administration has publicly confirmed that the PRC has taken steps to enhance and expand its intelligence-gathering capabilities inside Cuba since 2019. Please describe in detail the nature of this expansion. What companies are providing or selling equipment to support the expansion? Is the US government aware of any recent or ongoing discussions between the PRC and the Cuban regime to further expand the PRC logistics, base, and collection infrastructure on the island?
- What compensation, incentives or commitments did the Cuban regime receive or provide in exchange for the establishment and expansion of the PRC’s logistics, base and collection infrastructure in Cuba?
- What is the Administration’s assessment of the PRC’s objectives in establishing and expanding its intelligence operations inside Cuba?
- What is the Administration’s assessment of the impact that the establishment and expansion of the PRC’s intelligence-gathering infrastructure inside Cuba has had, and would have, on the national interests of the United States, including operations military, intelligence community vulnerabilities and commercial espionage? To what extent has the intelligence-gathering capability of the People’s Republic of China been used to monitor or intercept communications related to Caribbean shipping, US military bases, satellite transmissions, or other sensitive matters?
- What actions, diplomatic and otherwise, has the Administration taken in response to efforts by the People’s Republic of China to strengthen its collection logistics, base, and infrastructure within Cuba, including efforts to mitigate the effectiveness of such collection activities? Intelligence? How are these efforts different from or consist of those pursued by the previous administration? How successful have our efforts been?
- Please describe in detail your discussions with the Cuban regime and the government of the People’s Republic of China on these issues of signals intelligence and training. Please provide information on each date these talks took place and the level at which those talks took place.
- What is the Administration’s assessment of the current state of relations between Cuba and the People’s Republic of China? Aside from the PRC logistics, base, and collection infrastructure inside Cuba, are there additional issues of particular concern to the United States and our national interest regarding Cuba-PRC relations?
- What is the Administration’s assessment of the implications of a PRC collection, base, and logistics infrastructure in Cuba in terms of Cuba’s intelligence and military cooperation with the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of China? from iran? Please provide a breakdown of the estimated intelligence and military personnel of the aforementioned nations.
- Is the People’s Republic of China operating, expanding, or attempting to establish any additional logistics, base, training, and collection infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere outside of Cuba? If so, please describe in detail the location, nature, and extent of such infrastructure, including personnel, intelligence officers, and troops, as well as any additional actions the United States Government has taken in response.
- What are the latest reports on the PRC and the Cuban regime discussing the expansion of training programs in Cuba? Which entity in China is involved in this training and what is the operational capability they hope to achieve through this program?”
