US President Donald Trump has downplayed a report alleging that Chinese entities provided Iran 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 noted that Washington also spies on Beijing.
“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 strain relations between Washington and Beijing ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned September 24 state visit 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 Wall Street Journal, US officials who discussed the allegations did not identify the Chinese entities allegedly involved and did not accuse the Chinese government of directly supplying Iran with the satellite imagery.
The report said Chinese officials demanded evidence of any transfer of satellite images when questioned by US authorities and denied that Chinese companies had provided such imagery to Tehran.
The United States has previously warned China against supplying weapons to Iran. In May, Washington also imposed sanctions on three China-based satellite companies over their alleged support for Iran’s military operations.
China remains a major economic partner of Iran, purchasing a significant share of its oil exports while maintaining diplomatic ties with Tehran.
Despite the latest allegations, Trump adopted a conciliatory tone when asked about his relationship with Xi.
“He’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well,” Trump said.
Trump was also asked whether he would allow 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.