‘That’s what we do. They basically do what we do.’
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on 13 September.
Photograph courtesy of ANNA MONEYMAKER/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump downplayed reports that Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite images of a US military base in Jordan before and after an Iranian strike killed three American soldiers.
“You know, when they say that China spies on us, I say you’re right, and we spy on them, too,” Trump told reporters on Sunday aboard Air Force One.
“That’s what we do. They basically do what we do,” he added.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese entities provided Tehran with satellite imagery of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, which houses US forces.
Iran struck the base with missiles on 17 July, killing three US Army soldiers.
The report, citing unnamed US officials, did not identify the Chinese entities involved or suggest Beijing was directly responsible.
Chinese officials asked Washington for evidence of the alleged transfer and declined to acknowledge that Chinese companies provided the imagery, the Journal reported.
The allegations could add to tensions between Washington and Beijing ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned state visit to the White House on 24 September.
Washington sanctioned three China-based satellite companies in May for allegedly enabling Iranian military operations. Trump has also warned Beijing against selling weapons to Tehran.
China is a major economic and diplomatic partner of Iran and buys much of the country’s oil.
Still, Trump said of Xi: “He’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well.”
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