CHINA EXPANDS MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE CARIBBEAN

CHINA is moving to expand its military presence in Cuba, with a high-powered spying range from the Caribbean to the United States.

Discussions are being concluded on dramatically boosting the current military and spy operations on the island, US media organisations are reporting.

The US Government has expressed anxiety, but the Chinese authorities are denying any such plans.

The military operations would permit China to eavesdrop on highly sensitive US security operations in Florida and Carolina.

The facility would also deepen China’s links to the Caribbean and Latin America, which Beijing has been wooing in recent years with trade, and infrastructural works through the billion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative.

The US and other western powers have expressed anxiety over China’s deepening ties with these countries, and see it as a manoeuvre in its quest to become a global superpower.

China has spent at least US $12 billion on six Caribbean countries since 2005, on energy, extractive minerals, transportation, agriculture and other sectors.

There are BRI projects in several Caricom countries, and the participation of such giant firms as China Engineering Harbour Company.

There are US $2.5 billion worth of projects in Jamaica, and a US $800 million venture in Suriname.

The Asian powerhouse has reconstructed a major port in St. John’s, Antigua, making it suitable for military purposes, according to experts.

There are concerns that China would bid to construct and operate the proposed deepwater harbour at Toco, in Trinidad’s north-western tip.

China is generally upgrading its global military and intelligence facilities.

For years, the country has been spying on the US from Cuba, but the American authorities are now worried about security threats in the midst of tensions between both countries.

After witnessing China’s increasing chumminess with the Caribbean, the US has made some recent overtures to Caricom countries.

US Vice President Kamala Harris recently offered financial and technical assistance to the Caribbean, during a meeting in the Bahamas.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US would monitor the planned military expansion and “we will protect our homeland” and “our interests.”