China FM: Unaware of plans to open military training center in Cuba

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Jun 2023 14:42

The US newspaper claims that China and Cuba were currently in the process of negotiating the establishment of a joint military training center in the island.

A man walks under Cuban flags flying over a street in Havana, Cuba, Monday, July 26, 2021 (AP Photo/Eliana Aponte)

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Tuesday that she has no knowledge of Chinese-Cuban plans to open a military training center in Cuba, as speculated in a report published by The Wall Street Journal earlier in the day.

The US newspaper alleged, citing sources, that China and Cuba were currently in the process of negotiating the establishment of a joint military training center on the island, thus raising concerns in Washington.

"I am not familiar with the issue you are talking about. We hope that the relevant parties will focus their energy on things that promote mutual trust and the peaceful and stable development of the region," Mao told a briefing.

On June 9, Cuba slammed American media claims of an alleged plan to host a secret Chinese surveillance facility in the country, describing the reports released by The Wall Street Journal and CNN as "mendacious and unfounded."

"Slander of this kind is often fabricated by US officials," Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said, stressing that Havana rejects any foreign military presence in the region, "including the many US bases and troops."

The news was also denied by the White House which called the reports "inaccurate".

On his part, earlier today, China's Foreign Ministry said "spreading rumours and slander" is a common US tactic, calling on Washington to stop interfering in Cuba's internal affairs.