Former President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning, suggesting that China could face a substantial 50% tariff if it proceeds with transferring weapons to Iran. Despite intelligence reports from the U.S. indicating such plans, Trump expressed skepticism about China’s actions.
Discussing the situation, Trump alluded to reports about China supplying shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, known as MANPADs. This comment seemed to reference exclusive coverage by CNN, which detailed Beijing’s potential preparations for these transfers.
In a conversation with Fox News, Trump conveyed his belief that China would refrain from making such a move due to his personal rapport with the nation. “Maybe there was a minor attempt initially, but I don’t think it’s something they’d pursue now,” he remarked.
Nonetheless, Trump emphasized the repercussions of such actions, stating, “If we catch them doing that, they face a 50% tariff, and that’s a significant penalty.”
In response, a representative from the Chinese embassy in Washington firmly denied these claims, stating, “China has not supplied weapons to any party involved in the conflict; the allegations are false.”
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the US said, “China has never provided weapons to any party to the conflict; the information in question is untrue.”
