China refutes accusations of providing Iran with satellite images of US military bases in Jordan

(Deutsche Welle Chinese website) China has refuted US media reports that Chinese companies provided Iran with satellite images of a US military base in Jordan. "We firmly oppose baseless and unsubstantiated speculation and accusations," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters on Monday, following an Iranian attack on the base that killed three U.S. soldiers.

Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal quoted U.S. government officials as saying that Beijing allegedly provided Iran with satellite images of the Muwaffak Salti air base in Jordan before and after Iran launched a missile attack on the base on July 17 this year. The attack killed three U.S. soldiers. In the Wall Street Journal report, the U.S. official did not specifically disclose the names of the Chinese companies involved, nor did he imply that the matter was directly related to the Beijing authorities.

On Sunday, on his way back to the United States on Air Force One after finishing his visit to Ireland, U.S. President Trump said in response to reporters' questions: "If someone says China is spying on us, then I would say: You're right, but we are also spying on them. That's what we do, and they are basically doing the same thing as us."

On September 24 this year, Chinese leader Xi Jinping plans to visit the White House and hold talks with Trump. Asked if he would discuss satellite data, Trump declined to comment.

China has not yet officially confirmed whether the "Xi-Putin meeting" will be held as scheduled. Trump said he believed he had a good relationship with Xi Jinping. Trump said: "I think he behaved quite rationally, and we behaved quite rationally." Trump's statement seemed to continue his administration's consistent position: Although it is deeply dissatisfied with China's support for Iran, Washington will try to downplay tensions with Beijing.

Trump has previously warned China not to provide weapons to Iran. In May this year, the United States imposed sanctions on three Chinese satellite companies for supporting Iran's military operations.

China is one of Iran's most important economic and diplomatic partners and an important buyer of Iranian crude oil.