China Denies Assisting Iran in Attack on US Military Base in Jordan
Chinese authorities have strongly denied reports claiming that Beijing provided intelligence to Iran regarding attacks on a military base housing United States (US) troops in Jordan some time ago. Chinese authorities described the reports as “groundless.”
This denial, as reported by AFP on Monday (14/9/2026), follows a report by the prominent US media outlet, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which stated that several Chinese entities supplied satellite imagery related to the US base in Jordan before and after the Tehran-led attack that killed three American soldiers.
The WSJ report, released over the weekend, pertains to the missile attacks launched by Iran on 17 July against the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.
Several US officials, quoted by the WSJ in its report, did not specify the names of the Chinese entities involved and did not explicitly state that Beijing should be held directly responsible.
“We firmly reject unfounded suspicions and baseless accusations,” said Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, during a press conference on Monday (14/9).
US President Donald Trump, in his response, sought to downplay the uproar caused by the WSJ report, which has the potential to exacerbate tensions ahead of President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the White House on 24 September.
“You know, when they say China is spying on us, I say you’re right, and we also spy on them,” Trump remarked casually while speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One on Sunday (13/9) local time.
“That is what we do. Basically, they do what we do,” he added.
The WSJ report, released on Friday (11/9) night, also noted that Beijing officials requested evidence regarding the transfer of satellite imagery when pressed by Washington officials, and refused to acknowledge that Chinese companies were involved in supplying satellite imagery to Iran.
Trump had previously warned Beijing against selling weapons to Tehran. In May, the US imposed sanctions on three China-based satellite companies for allegedly facilitating Iranian military operations.