US President Donald Trump has played down reports that Chinese entities provided Tehran with satellite imagery of a US military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian missile attack that killed three American soldiers.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump acknowledged that China conducts intelligence activities against the United States, but said Washington engages in similar activities.
“You know, when they say that China spies on us, I say you’re right, and we spy on them too,” Trump said, a day after The Wall Street Journal reported that Beijing had shared intelligence with Iran.
“That’s what we do. They basically do what we do,” he added.
The report could further complicate relations between Washington and Beijing ahead of a planned September 24 state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House.
On July 17, Iran fired missiles at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, where US forces are stationed. The attack killed three US Army soldiers.
According to the Journal, US officials who spoke about the intelligence-sharing allegations did not identify the Chinese entities allegedly involved and did not accuse the Chinese government of directly providing the imagery.
The report said Chinese officials demanded evidence of any transfer of satellite images when questioned by US officials and denied that Chinese companies had supplied Tehran with such imagery.
Washington has previously warned Beijing against supplying weapons to Iran. In May, the US also imposed sanctions on three China-based satellite companies over their alleged support for Iran’s military operations.
China remains one of Iran’s major economic partners, purchasing a significant portion of the country’s oil exports, while also providing diplomatic support to Tehran.
Despite the latest allegations, Trump struck a relatively conciliatory tone when asked about his relationship with Xi.
“He’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well,” the US president said.
Trump was also asked whether he would ever permit Chinese-made cars to be sold in the United States.
“I haven’t. I’m the one that kept them out. The tariffs kept them out,” he replied.
Trump dismisses China-Iran intel report before deadly US base attack