New Delhi: Even as Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward a four-point plan for peace in West Asia, China warned the US not to impose tariffs based on what it called “fabricated reports” that Beijing is supplying weapons to Iran.
China’s reaction came just a day after US President Donald Trump indicated he would impose a 50 percent tariff if it is proved that China is arming Iran.
Trump’s remarks came in response to a report by the New York Times, which said that US intelligence agencies have information that China, in recent weeks, “may have sent a shipment of shoulder-fired missiles to Iran for its conflict with the United States and Israel”.
Responding to the developments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun Tuesday called the reports “purely fabricated.”
“China always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with China’s laws and regulations and due international obligations. Media reports accusing China of providing military support to Iran are purely fabricated,” he said in his weekly press conference.
He added, “If the U.S. goes ahead with the tariff hikes on China on the basis of these accusations, China will respond with countermeasures.”
China always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with China’s laws and regulations and due international obligations.
Media reports accusing China of providing military support to Iran are purely… pic.twitter.com/cMW2EDhEZP
— CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) April 14, 2026
His statement came on the day Xi Jinping met UAE crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and outlined a four-point proposal for peace in West Asia focusing on a “common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable” security framework for the Gulf and the wider region.
The New York Times had on Sunday reported that US intelligence agencies have information that China, in recent weeks, “may have sent a shipment of shoulder-fired missiles to Iran for its conflict with the United States and Israel”.
The report said the intelligence is “not definitive” that any missile shipment has taken place, and there is “no evidence” that Chinese missiles have been used against American or Israeli forces so far. However, the debate in Beijing over whether to send missiles to Iran “suggests the extent to which China sees itself as having a stake in the conflict.”
Another New York Times report said that US intel on possible Chinese support comes as American intelligence agencies claimed to have evidence that Russia has provided Iran with satellite intelligence. This, the report added, has helped Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps target American ships, as well as military and diplomatic sites across West Asia.
The report added that such support reflects how US adversaries are trying to “raise the costs” for Washington and potentially bog down the American military in the war.
Following the report, Trump Monday threatened a 50 percent tariff on China over reports it was “shipping” shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles to Iran. Speaking to Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News, Trump said he “doubted China would continue such actions.”
“If we find China, because I hear news reports, so a news report doesn’t mean much to me because they’re so fake, but I hear news reports about China giving the shoulder missiles, what’s called the shoulder missile, anti-aircraft missile,” he had said.
Last week, without naming a specific country, Trump warned of 50 percent tariffs on imports from any country found supplying weapons to Iran, only hours after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire with Tehran.