‘Rumours and Slander’: China Slams US Over Reported ‘Spy Base’ in Cuba

News Snapshot:

China warned the United States Friday against “interfering in Cuba’s internal affairs", in response to reports that Beijing was planning to set up a spy base on the island just off American shores. The media reports, based on comments by anonymous US officials to The Wall Street Journal and CNN, were dismissed by Cuba’s deputy foreign minister as “mendacious and unfounded", while the White House called them inaccurate. When asked about the alleged spying base at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said he was “unaware of the situation" before criticising US policy on Cuba. “As...