 "Cuban connection: How China spies on the US via antennas on this island")
China is at odds with the West, especially the United States, due to Beijing’s efforts to expand its global power and influence. The Asian nation, harbouring deep distrust and animosity towards the US, has some very good reasons to spy on America’s military activities.
Recently, an investigation by US-based think tank, Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has yielded a shocking report about China using assets in Cuba to spy on the US. This is the latest in a long line of news articles and documents around such efforts.
We explain how spying on the US is possible from Cuba and why China has chosen Havana for such activities.
Growing Chinese spying via Cuba
The CSIS investigative report is based on years of satellite imagery analysis. It has found that Cuba has significantly upgraded and expanded its electronic spying facilities in recent years. Images of four key sites— Bejucal, El Salao, Wajay, and Calabazar— have unveiled that there has been significant growth in the kinds of infrastructure and equipment used for Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). We’ll explain what that is shortly.
For instance, in Bejucal, which is known to be a spying enclave that houses antennas, there is now a mysterious new radome that may contain a radar or Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) system.
Near the El Salao neighbourhood, CSIS uncovered a new SIGINT collection site under construction. The structure seems to be a circularly disposed antenna array (CDAA) formation. This is a configuration that allows a group of antennas to catch high-frequency signals quite effectively.
Similar developments have been noted Wajay and Calabazar. Wajay even has a solar farm to bypass Cuba’s notoriously unreliable power grid.
But the CSIS report isn’t the only one pointing to growing investment in enhancing Cuban spy systems. The hardware for solar power generation is often supplied by China.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsIn June 2023, the Wall Street Journal, citing US officials familiar with highly classified intelligence, reported that China and Cuba had reached a secret agreement for China to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility on the island. These officials disclosed that China had agreed to pay cash-strapped Cuba several billion dollars to allow it to build the eavesdropping station, with the two countries reaching an agreement in principle.
Shortly after this report, the White House stated that China has had a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, with Beijing’s efforts to expand its intelligence gathering being ongoing.
How Cuba spies on the US
The CSIS report and several unconfirmed reports before it have mentioned the presence of high-tech equipment, including large antennas, used for SIGINT. SIGINT is a core element of modern spycraft, involving the collection, analysis, and exploitation of information from intercepted electronic signals for intelligence purposes. This includes communications and non-communication signals, providing valuable information about adversaries, competitors, and allies.
Collecting SIGINT requires specialised equipment, such as antennas optimised for the signal characteristics of their targets. The size, number, orientation, and layout of these antennas determine their capabilities and function.
Notably, there has been an increase in space-monitoring equipment at sites like Bejucal and Calabazar, which is significant given Cuba’s lack of its own satellites or space program.
These space-tracking capabilities are likely intended to monitor the activities of other nations, particularly the United States.
According to an October 2018 staff report of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, China maintains a physical presence at Soviet-era intelligence facilities at Bejucal, likely for SIGINT collection.
What also helps Cuba spy on the US is its geographic proximity to Florida. Sitting less than 100 miles south of Florida, Cuba is well-positioned to monitor sensitive communications and activities in the region, including those of the US military. It is important to note that Florida houses US Naval stations, Air Force bases, and the US Southern Command.
Geography impacts the effectiveness of SIGINT, as radio signals can become difficult to isolate over long distances. Radar transmissions generally require a direct line of sight to the target, and Cuba’s proximity to the southern United States and the Caribbean provides a significant intelligence advantage.
Cuba’s state-owned telecommunications monopoly, Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (ETECSA), also plays a critical role in this espionage effort, according to a report by the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector. Through ETECSA, the Cuban government can access and collect all internet traffic, sensitive data, and communications transiting through certain cables in specific areas. It could potentially share this collected information with foreign adversaries like China and Russia.
Cuba: the perfect choice for China
Cuba has a long history of hosting foreign espionage operations targeting the United States. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union operated its largest overseas intelligence site at the Lourdes SIGINT Complex in Cuba.
Amid Western sanctions, Cuba has sought to strengthen ties with China (and Russia). Reports suggest that Cuba and China have discussed additional security cooperation. Strong military ties between Cuba and the China are also evident through the presence of Chinese military personnel on the island.
Cuba’s economic situation also plays a role. The country is experiencing its worst economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union and is in desperate need of external assistance. China has emerged as a critical lifeline, providing billions in debt relief and direct assistance in recent years. This economic leverage may open doors for China’s military and intelligence services in Cuba, even if China does not have direct access to facilities. Data collected by Cuban counterparts can be readily shared with Beijing, enhancing China’s intelligence capabilities.
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