- US President Says China and America Conduct Similar Intelligence-Gathering Activities
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE: US President Donald Trump on Sunday dismissed a report alleging that Iran obtained satellite imagery of a US-linked military facility in Jordan from Chinese entities ahead of an attack that killed three American service members in July.
The report, published by The Wall Street Journal, cited unnamed US officials who said Iranian forces had obtained satellite imagery of the facility before the attack. The newspaper did not identify the Chinese entities allegedly involved, while the officials reportedly did not accuse the Chinese government of directly participating in the incident.
Trump Draws Comparison Between US and Chinese Surveillance
Asked whether he intended to raise the matter during an expected meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump did not directly address the question. Instead, he compared Chinese intelligence-gathering activities with those conducted by the United States.
“They basically do what we do,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “When they say China spies on us, I say you’re right, and we spy on them too.”
The comments come as Washington and Beijing seek to manage a range of strategic and economic differences, while the United States remains concerned about China’s expanding ties with Iran.
Trump Reaffirms Relationship With Xi
Trump also reiterated that he maintains a positive relationship with Xi, describing the Chinese leader as having acted reasonably in their dealings.
“I think he’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well,” Trump said while returning to the United States following a weekend trip to Ireland.
Trump and Xi are expected to meet in the United States on September 24, although Beijing has yet to officially confirm the planned summit.
Report Highlights Complex US-China-Iran Ties
The Wall Street Journal report, which Reuters said it could not immediately independently verify, alleged that Chinese entities provided satellite imagery to Iran before the deadly attack in Jordan. However, the report did not establish direct involvement by Beijing.
Trump’s remarks appear consistent with recent efforts by his administration to avoid publicly escalating broader tensions with China, despite Washington’s concerns over Beijing’s increasingly close strategic relationship with Tehran.
BY: The Times Union
