Full Breakdown
Trump Says China Spies on U.S. as Report Links Chinese Imagery to Iran Attack
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Trump’s Remarks on Chinese Surveillance and the July 17 Missile Strike
On July 17, Iran launched missile strikes against the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, killing three U.S. Army soldiers. A Wall Street Journal report said unnamed U.S. officials linked high-resolution satellite imagery supplied by Chinese entities to the attack. While aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump responded that “China spies on us and we spy on them too,” and noted that “they basically do what we do.” He was also asked whether he would raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi’s scheduled September 24 visit to the United States.
Background & Context
The imagery allegation emerged amid broader U.S.–China tensions. In May, Washington imposed sanctions on three China-based satellite companies, accusing them of enabling Iran’s military operations. Chinese officials have declined to acknowledge that any Chinese companies provided the imagery and have asked the United States for evidence of the transfer. The upcoming September 24 summit is expected to cover a range of economic, trade, and geopolitical issues between the two powers.
Official Statements & Responses
President Trump framed the surveillance claim as reciprocal, emphasizing that both nations engage in similar intelligence activities. He described President Xi as having “behaved reasonably well” and said the United States also behaves reasonably. When pressed about raising the satellite-imagery issue, Trump did not give a direct answer, instead indicating he would discuss “almost everything” with Xi at the September 24 meeting. Chinese officials, according to the report, neither confirmed nor denied the alleged transfer of imagery.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They basically do what we do,” — Donald Trump, president
- “You know what they say? That China spies on us. I say you're right, and we spy on them, too,” — Donald Trump, president
- “China spies on us and we spy on them too,” — Donald Trump, president
- “I think he’s behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well,” — Donald Trump, president
What’s Next
The September 24 summit between President Trump and President Xi is slated to take place in the United States. Both leaders are expected to address “almost everything,” which may include the satellite-imagery allegation, ongoing sanctions, and broader bilateral tensions. No further public statements have been made regarding how the issue will be raised during the meeting.