US President Donald Trump on Sunday played down reports alleging that Chinese entities provided Iran with satellite images of a US military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian missile strike that killed three American soldiers.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said intelligence gathering between major powers was a common practice.
“You know, when they say that China spies on us, I say you’re right, and we spy on them too,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One a day after The Wall Street Journal reported Beijing’s intelligence sharing.
“That’s what we do. They basically do what we do,” Trump said.
The development could further strain relations between Washington and Beijing ahead of a planned state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House on September 24.
On July 17, Iran carried out missile attacks on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, where US forces are stationed. The attack resulted in the deaths of three US Army soldiers.
The Wall Street Journal report, citing unnamed American officials, did not identify the Chinese entities allegedly involved and did not indicate that Beijing was directly responsible for the transfer.
According to the report published late Friday, Chinese officials demanded evidence from US officials regarding the alleged transfer of satellite imagery and declined to confirm that Chinese companies had supplied Tehran with the images.
Trump has previously cautioned Beijing against supplying weapons to Iran. In May, the US government imposed sanctions on three Chinese-based satellite companies over allegations that they supported Iran’s military activities.
China remains one of Iran’s major economic partners, purchasing a significant portion of the country’s oil exports while also providing important diplomatic support.
Despite the tensions, Trump said of Xi on Sunday that “he’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well.”
When asked whether he would permit Chinese-made cars to be sold in the United States, Trump responded, “I haven’t. I’m the one that kept them out. The tariffs kept them out.”
