US President Donald Trump has played down reports that Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite imagery of a US military base before an Iranian missile strike that killed three American soldiers.
Iranian missiles struck Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, which hosts US forces, in July. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from a visit to Ireland, Trump said intelligence gathering between major powers was not unusual. “You know, when they say that China spies on us, I say you’re right, and we spy on them too,” Trump said. “That’s what we do. They basically do what we do.”
The Wall Street Journal reported that unnamed US officials said Chinese entities had provided satellite imagery to Iran before the attack. The officials reportedly did not identify the entities involved, and the report did not suggest that the Chinese government was directly involved.
Trump declined to say whether he would raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is expected to visit the White House on September 24. China has not officially confirmed that the meeting will take place. Trump also reiterated that he believed he maintained a good relationship with Xi.
“I think he’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well,” he said. The comments come as the Trump administration seeks to avoid a broader deterioration in relations with Beijing, despite concerns in Washington over China’s ties with Iran. Trump has previously warned China against supplying Iran with weapons.
In May, the United States sanctioned three Chinese satellite companies over alleged links with Iranian military entities. China remains one of Iran’s major economic and diplomatic partners and is also among the leading buyers of Iranian oil.