A report said U.S. intelligence has detected signs that China intends to supply air-defense weapons to Iran.
CNN reported on the 10th, citing sources, that U.S. intelligence has identified indications that China is preparing to deliver a new air-defense system to Iran within weeks.
According to the report, the weapon China intends to provide is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS). The weapon can target low-flying aircraft and is assessed as potentially posing a threat to U.S. military aircraft.
Earlier, on the 3rd, the U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet shot down by Iranian forces was also reported to have been hit by a man-portable heat-seeking missile, but it has not been confirmed whether the weapon was made in China.
If China actually supplies the weapons, there is also a possibility that tensions with the United States will escalate. While maintaining friendly ties with Iran, China has outwardly stayed neutral after U.S. military operations.
CNN analyzed that China could emphasize a different course from Russia by arguing that the air-defense system is defensive, not offensive. Russia was reported to have provided Iran with information related to U.S. forces during the war.
It was also reported that signs were detected that China is considering routing the delivery through a third country to conceal direct involvement.
However, the Chinese Embassy in the United States refuted the report, saying, "China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict," and, "The related information is not true."
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing next month to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.