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The United States (US) President Donald Trump has downplayed reports on Sunday that Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite images of a US military base in Jordan.
According to AFP, the Wall Street Journal reported that Beijing’s intelligence sharing provided Tehran with images of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base before and after an Iranian strike.
Three US Army soldiers were killed when Iran launched missile strikes on the base on July 17.
The Jordanian base houses US forces and was targeted during the conflict between Washington and Tehran.
“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 on Sunday.
“That’s what we do. They basically do what we do,” he added.
The report could further strain US-China relations before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned state visit to the White House on September 24.
However, US officials cited by The Wall Street Journal did not identify the Chinese entities allegedly involved or suggest that Beijing was directly responsible for the transfer.
Chinese officials reportedly demanded proof of the satellite imagery transfer when US officials questioned them and denied involvement by Chinese companies.
Trump has previously warned China against selling weapons to Iran.
In May, the United States sanctioned three China-based satellite companies for allegedly supporting Iran’s military operations.
China remains a major economic partner of Iran, purchasing much of the country’s oil and providing diplomatic support.
Despite the latest reports, Trump said Xi had maintained a reasonable approach in dealing with the United States.
“He’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well,” Trump said.
Trump also said the United States had kept Chinese-made cars out of the American market through tariffs.
“I haven’t. I’m the one that kept them out. The tariffs kept them out,” he said when asked whether he would allow Chinese cars to be sold in the US.
