Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) joined Congressman Pat Ryan (N.Y.-18) and 10 of their Democratic Veteran colleagues in calling on President Trump to publicly condemn China’s support for Iranian forces that are killing U.S. troops ahead of his White House meeting with President Xi Jinping.
On July 17th, an Iranian missile struck a U.S. base in Jordan killing three servicemembers and injuring four others. Recent reporting from the Wall Street Journal confirms that Iran acquired high-resolution satellite imagery of the base from Chinese entities.
Ahead of the September 23rd White House meeting between Trump and Xi, Ryan is leading his Democratic veteran colleagues in demanding Trump hold Xi accountable for Beijing’s role in U.S. troop deaths, and that he publicly condemn China’s support for IRGC operations.
Joining Vindman and Ryan are fellow Democratic veterans and U.S. Representatives Maggie Goodlander (N.H.-02), Chris Deluzio (Pa.-17), Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.-06), Jason Crow (Colo.-06), Herb Conaway (N.J.-03), Derek Tran (Calif.-45), Mike Thompson (Calif.-04), Jimmy Panetta (Calif.-19), Ted Lieu (Calif.-36), and Salud Carbajal (Calif.-24).
The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
Dear President Trump,
Ahead of President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to the White House, we implore you to use your meeting to strongly condemn China’s sharing of satellite information that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. servicemembers in Jordan on July 17th, and demand that President Xi cease any support, cooperation, and information sharing with Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
On July 17th, an Iranian ballistic missile struck sleeping quarters at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, killing three American soldiers and wounding four others. The Wall Street Journal has since reported that Iran acquired high-resolution satellite imagery of the base from Chinese entities both before and after the attack, intelligence that U.S. officials say was directly connected to the strike that killed our troops.
Your administration knew this coordination was happening. In May, the State Department sanctioned three China-based firms for supplying Iran with satellite imagery of American and allied military facilities. Senior officials in your administration reportedly spent months warning their Chinese counterparts that companies in their country were arming Iran with the targeting data.
The satellite imagery is only one piece of China’s material support to Iran; Chinese firms have supplied key raw materials for the production of Iranian Shaheds, delivered chipmaking equipment to the IRGC, and sold Iran shoulder-launched missile systems, including the weapon that was likely responsible for the downed American F-15E Strike Eagle.
Rather than hold Beijing accountable, you downplayed these findings. When asked aboard Air Force One whether you would raise the issue with President Xi, you told reporters, “I think he’s behaved reasonably well.” That is a direct and egregious betrayal of our troops.
Our servicemembers are paying the price in blood for this administration’s pathetic refusal to confront Beijing. That must end now. Your meeting with President Xi presents an important opportunity to condemn China’s role in arming and enabling Iran, and to demand an end to their support.
As veterans, we know what it means to send Americans into harm’s way, and we know what is owed to them in return: the truth, and a Commander-in-Chief willing to hold accountable anyone and everyone who might do harm to our troops.
BACKGROUND
Vindman is a 25-year Army veteran and member of the Democratic Veterans Caucus; Vindman also sits on the House Armed Services Committee, where he has become the leading voice of opposition to Trump’s war in Iran.
###