China has rejected as “groundless” reports that Chinese entities supplied Iran with satellite images of a Jordanian military base housing US troops before and after an Iranian missile strike.
The reports, published by the Wall Street Journal, concern missile attacks on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan about two months ago. The strikes reportedly killed three American soldiers.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun dismissed the allegations during a regular news conference Today.
“We firmly oppose groundless suspicion and accusations without evidence,” Guo said.
The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed US officials in its report but did not identify the Chinese entities allegedly involved. It also did not accuse Beijing directly of supplying the imagery.
The report comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing ahead of a planned visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House later this month.
US President Donald Trump sought to play down the allegations, saying China and the United States both conduct intelligence operations against each other.
“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.
“That’s what we do. They basically do what we do,” he added.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Chinese officials were asked by US officials to provide evidence of any satellite imagery transfer. Beijing reportedly refused to acknowledge that Chinese companies had supplied Tehran with satellite images.
The allegations come as Washington continues to pressure Beijing over its relationship with Iran. Trump has warned China against selling weapons to Tehran, while the US has sanctioned three China-based satellite companies over alleged support for Iran’s military operations.
China remains a major economic partner of Iran and buys a significant share of its oil exports. Beijing is also an important diplomatic supporter of Tehran.
Despite the tensions, Trump said Xi had acted reasonably in dealings with Washington.
“He’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well,” Trump said.
Trump also said US tariffs had helped prevent Chinese-made cars from entering the American market.
