Senator urges Trump to press China over Iran's satellite data use against US ahead of Xi visit
For months, we have known that Chinese companies are helping the Iranian military target and attempt to kill U.S. troops. New reporting now shows that this support from China may have directly contributed to the deaths of American servicemembers.
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) September 18, 2026
The provision of targeting…
WASHINGTON, DC: Immediately before Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to Washington, Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin has urged President Donald Trump to confront his counterpart over Iran’s use of Chinese satellite data to target troops.
Xi Jinping is scheduled to meet Donald Trump at the White House on September 24, 2026.
The expected topics of discussion involve artificial intelligence (AI), trade, and global conflicts like the war in Ukraine and Gaza.
Senator wants Trump to confront Xi Jinping
In a letter written to Donald Trump on Friday, September 18, Michigan Sen Elissa Slotkin urged the president to make the Chinese satellite data issue "a centerpiece of your talks with President Xi" during his White House visit next week.
The US has reportedly obtained evidence that the Iranians used satellite images from Chinese entities to carry out the July attack on a military base in Jordan that killed three US service members and wounded four others.
Last week, The Wall Street Journal, citing US officials, reported that Tehran had acquired images of the base from the Chinese.
"For months, we have known that Chinese companies are helping the Iranian military target and attempt to kill US troops," Slotkin wrote.
Citing the outlet's report, she said, "But new reporting now shows that this support from China may have directly contributed to the deaths of American service members."
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies for imagery that "enables Iran's military strikes against US forces in the Middle East."
President Trump reluctant to criticize to China
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 13, 2026
Reporter: We recently reported that Chinese entities may have provided Iranians with satellite imagery of the air bases in Jordan.
Trump: They basically do what we do.
Reporter: Are you going to raise that with Xi when he… pic.twitter.com/4CkZ60Sawq
Their names are Meentropy Technology, The Earth Eye, and Chang Guang Satellite Technology.
Iran reportedly received US base images from Chinese companies
Slotkin noted that the report said that Iran had "acquired high-resolution satellite images of a US base in Jordan from Chinese companies both before and after an Iranian attack in July that killed three American service members and wounded four others."
She continued, "But when you were asked this week whether you would raise this issue—three American service members potentially killed as a result of Chinese companies supplying targeting information to Iran—with President Xi during his visit, you said, 'I think he's behaved reasonably well.'"
Speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One on September 13, President Trump said of Xi, "I think he's behaved reasonably well, and we behave reasonably well. You know, when they say that China spies on us, I say, 'you're right, and we spy on them too. You know, we spy on them, too.'"
He said, "They basically do what we do."
