Foreign media reported that Iran used Chinese satellite photos for a precision attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan in July that killed three U.S. service members. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States and China are spying on each other and reacted as if it were no big deal.
According to AFP on the 13th local time, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, "If people say China is spying on us, I would say that's true, but I would also say we are spying on them," adding, "That's what we do, and they are basically just doing what we do."
On the 11th, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing U.S. officials, reported that before Iran attacked the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on July 17, it secured high-resolution satellite images of the base from the Chinese side. At the time, Iran struck U.S. military quarters at the base with ballistic missiles, killing three U.S. service members and injuring four.
Trump's remarks that day are seen as emphasizing that China and the United States are keeping the lines they should not cross with each other, even as he did not directly deny the report that Iran used Chinese satellite photos to attack U.S. troops.
Trump also said of Chinese President Xi Jinping, "He is acting fairly reasonably," adding, "We are acting fairly reasonably as well." Recently, Trump disclosed that Xi is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C., on the 24th of this month.