China's new radar installation in Cuba could provide a strategic advantage in gathering intelligence on the United States.

According to a recent report from a Washington think-tank, a new radar site being built in Cuba is causing concern about its potential to spy on a nearby US naval base. The facility, which has been under construction for the past three years, is located east of Santiago de Cuba and is expected to serve as a "powerful tool" for monitoring US military signals.

With its close proximity to the US mainland, Cuba is seen as an ideal location for China to keep an eye on its biggest geopolitical rival. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) analyzed satellite imagery of the radar site and found that it would have the capability to monitor signals from as far as 5500km to 15,000km away.

The antenna equipment at the site, which has a diameter of 130m to 200m, is believed to have the capacity to eavesdrop on the US naval station at Guantanamo Bay, located just 73km east of Santiago. The CSIS study, reported by various American media outlets, has raised concerns about Chinese access to the radar base and the potential implications for US security.

However, a Cuban government official took to social media to deny any involvement in allowing China to set up intelligence facilities on their land. According to Reuters, Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio stated that the Wall Street Journal - which reported on the CSIS study - was trying to "intimidate" Cuba with baseless claims about Chinese military bases on the island.

Meanwhile, the US State Department has declined to comment on the report but did acknowledge that they are closely monitoring China's presence in Cuba. A spokesperson stated that they are aware of China's efforts to enhance its presence on the island and that the US will continue to take measures to disrupt it. With tensions between the US and China already high, this latest development in Cuba is sure to be a cause for concern for both sides.

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