Donald Trump on Sunday brushed aside a report that Iran obtained satellite images of a base in Jordan from Chinese entities before an attack that killed three American soldiers in July. Iranian missiles struck the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, which houses US forces, DW reported. Trump made the remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One as he flew back from a weekend trip to Ireland.
What did the report say? The report, published by the Wall Street Journal, cited unnamed US officials. Those officials declined to identify the Chinese entities that supplied the imagery to Iran and did not allege direct involvement by Beijing. The report could not be immediately verified by Reuters, CNA reported.
What did the president say? Asked whether he would raise the issue with Chinese President 
Xi Jinping, Trump did not directly answer and instead equated the surveillance activities of the two countries. "They basically do what we do," he said. "When they say China spies on us, I say you're right and we spy on them too." He also reiterated his view that he has a good relationship with Xi, saying: "I think he's behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well." The two presidents are expected to meet at the White House on September 24, though China has yet to officially confirm the meeting.
How did Beijing respond? China said on Monday that it has consistently and strictly fulfilled its international obligations, without elaborating, CNA reported. "We firmly oppose unfounded suspicions and accusations made without evidence," foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular news briefing.
What is the backdrop? The remarks follow a pattern set by the administration, which has sought to play down tensions with China despite frustration in Washington over Beijing's support for Iran. Trump has previously warned China not to provide Iran with weapons, and in May the US sanctioned three Chinese satellite companies for working with Iranian military entities, DW reported. China is one of Iran's top economic and diplomatic partners and a main buyer of its oil. At least 18 US service personnel have been killed since the US-Israeli war with Iran began at the end of February, CNA reported.
Figures referenced: Donald Trump, Xi Jinping. — JudgeMarket.
