In a formal online press briefing held Thursday, China’s Ministry of National Defense has categorically denied unsubstantiated media claims that Chinese entities have provided chip manufacturing equipment and intelligence assistance to Iran’s military, labeling the assertions outright false information.
Spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang addressed the allegations during the briefing, which centered on two specific claims: first, that Shanghai-based Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) had supplied chipmaking gear to Iran’s armed forces, and second, that a Chinese commercial satellite firm had intentionally distributed imagery of United States military installations across the Middle East.
Zhang emphasized that Beijing maintains a firm stance against the circulation of speculative, insinuating, and factually incorrect content crafted to target China. He also pushed back against recent remarks from United States officials, who claimed they had detected coordinated efforts by both China and Russia to bolster Iran’s military capabilities and were prepared to take responsive measures if deemed necessary.
“China’s position on the Iran issue is open, aboveboard, and completely clear,” Zhang stated. “We have long maintained an objective and impartial stance, consistently working to advance peace negotiations and de-escalation, and we have never at any point added fuel to the fire of regional tensions.”
The spokesperson further pointed out that the international community has a clear-eyed view of which powers engage in duplicitous rhetoric versus action, and which actors have been the root cause of widespread war and conflict across the globe. The statement comes amid rising geopolitical scrutiny of major powers’ engagements in the Middle East, as Washington has repeatedly sought to level unsubstantiated accusations against Beijing regarding its regional activities.
Updated on April 9, 2026, the formal denial reaffirms China’s longstanding commitment to regional stability and diplomatic resolution of the ongoing tensions surrounding Iran.