Trump says China 'spies' on US after report ties Chinese imagery to Iran strike

President Donald Trump said Sunday that China "spies on us" just as "we spy on them," following a report that Chinese entities provided Iran with satellite imagery before a deadly missile attack that killed three U.S. troops.

While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked about a Wall Street Journal report that Chinese entities allegedly supplied Iran with high-resolution satellite imagery of Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan before Tehran's July 17 missile attack.

"They basically do what we do," Trump said.

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President Donald Trump said Sunday that China "spies on us" and that "we spy on them too." (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)

Asked whether he planned to raise the issue with Chinese President Xi Jinping when he visits the U.S., Trump said Xi has "behaved reasonably well," and that "we behave reasonably well."

"You know what they say? That China spies on us. I say you're right, and we spy on them, too," Trump said.

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U.S. officials have reportedly linked the imagery to Iran's July 17 strike on the Jordanian base, which killed three U.S. troops.  (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials linked the imagery to Iran's July 17 strike on the Jordanian base, which killed three U.S. troops. 

Officials described it as the clearest evidence to date that support from Chinese entities for Iran during the war has had deadly consequences for American forces, the outlet reported.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit Washington on Sept. 24 for a summit with Trump. (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI via AP)

The U.S. officials did not identify the Chinese entities involved or accuse Beijing of direct involvement in the attack. 

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Xi is scheduled to visit Washington on Sept. 24 for a summit with Trump.

The White House could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.

Fox News Digital's Emma Bussey contributed to this report.

Sophia Compton is a Writer at Fox News Digital. Sophia was previously a business reporter covering finance, energy and tourism and has experience as a TV news producer. She graduated with a journalism degree in 2021 from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Story tips can be sent to sophia.compton@fox.com.