Trump Comments on Chinese Espionage

On Sunday, President Donald Trump remarked that China “spies on us” in a manner similar to how “we spy on them.” This comment was made in response to a report indicating that Chinese entities had provided Iran with satellite imagery prior to a missile strike that resulted in the deaths of three American troops.

While aboard Air Force One, Trump addressed a Wall Street Journal article that alleged Chinese entities supplied high-resolution satellite images of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan ahead of Iran’s missile attack on July 17.

Trump stated, “They basically do what we do,” showing an understanding that espionage is a common practice for both nations.

When asked if he would discuss this issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi’s upcoming visit to the U.S., Trump noted that Xi has “behaved reasonably well,” and added, “we behave reasonably well,” which suggests a kind of mutual recognition between the two countries.

“You know what they say? That China spies on us. I say you’re right, and we spy on them, too,” Trump concluded in his remarks.

U.S. officials have reportedly linked the satellite imagery to the deadly missile strike on the Jordanian base, describing it as the most compelling evidence so far that Chinese support for Iran has led to severe consequences for American forces.

While the Chinese entities involved in this situation have not been specified, officials did not accuse Beijing of being directly involved in the attack.

Xi Jinping is slated to visit Washington on September 24 for a summit with Trump. The White House has not yet responded to inquiries regarding these comments.