Aside from monitoring capabilities, a large, permanent presence on Cuba "is an important symbol, getting right under the noses of the U.S. and reflecting China's global ambitions", he said.
In 2019, Reuters reported that China's military was running a space monitoring station in Argentina.
Regional diplomats say that as China builds a global military intelligence network, it lacks a U.S.-style system of alliances and partnerships that can help discreet surveillance efforts.
China's defence ministry declined to comment.
"This trend is only going to grow alongside China's global reach," said Singapore-based defence analyst Alexander Neill.
Persons:
Diego Garcia, Carl Thayer, China's, Antony Blinken, Alexander Neill, Greg Torode, Kirsty Needham, Laurie Chen, Gerry Doyle
Organizations:
People's Liberation Army, Australian Defence Force Academy of, Australian National University, PLA, Reuters, Defence, South China, International Institute for Strategic Studies, China, Support Force, Pentagon, Thomson
Locations:
HONG KONG, China, Cuba, Beijing, United States, U.S, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Guam, British, CUBA, Coast, Florida, Russia, Moscow, Argentina, CHINA, Hainan, South, Southeast Asia, London, Namibia, Pakistan, Kenya, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Angola, China's, Singapore, Sydney