China is negotiating with Cuba to build a joint training center, raising concerns that Chinese troops could be stationed in US waters.
According to a recent report, discussions between the two nations have reached an advanced stage but have not yet concluded. The report states that officials from President Joe Biden’s administration have been actively discouraging their Cuban counterparts from finalizing the agreement.
Implications for US & China Relations
This report follows the completion of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s two-day visit to Beijing, where he met with President Xi Jinping. The meetings, which marked the highest-level visit to China by a US official thus far, took place during a period of heightened tensions between the two major powers.
Both sides acknowledged some progress in easing tensions during the meeting and expressed a commitment to further diplomatic engagements, including upcoming high-level visits from the US.
Although the White House has not immediately confirmed the Wall Street Journal report, Blinken informed reporters on Tuesday that he had expressed deep concerns regarding China’s intelligence or military activities in Cuba during his visit.
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Potential Risks of Unintended Escalation
In the meantime, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated to reporters that it is not a secret that China is attempting to enhance its influence and reach, and the US has been aware of and monitoring these efforts.
This latest report comes shortly after the Biden administration confirmed that China has been conducting surveillance operations in Cuba for several years, with upgrades made in 2019.
According to a current and former US official cited by the Wall Street Journal, the reported new military facility is part of China’s Project 141, an initiative aimed at expanding China’s military and logistical support network worldwide.
On Tuesday, US officials also reiterated the importance of reestablishing military-to-military communication between the US and China, a goal that Blinken did not achieve during his visit.
Sarah Beran, the White House National Security Council’s senior director for China and Taiwan affairs, emphasized in a briefing with reporters that establishing such communication channels is crucial for reducing frictions between the two global powers.
Chinese officials have cited US sanctions as a hindrance to military dialogue, while US officials have consistently warned that a lack of military communication could potentially lead to unintended escalation. Recent incidents involving close encounters between US and Chinese aircraft over the South China Sea and naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait have underscored these concerns.
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