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News & Current Events Apr 15, 2026 at 6:54 AM

Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases, FT reports

Posted by UpbeatGarden3746

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gao7on Apr 15, 2026 +14
Given all the US military bases stationed in China's backyard, e.g. in neighboring Japan, S. Korea, Philippines, and arms sales to Taiwan, just to contain Mainland China, naturally they would ally with long-time foes of the US. Yet, Chinese diplomats were denied by Iran the opportunity of being the US-Iran mediator, as Pakistan was chosen instead.
14
Delamoor Apr 15, 2026 +6
Nah, that choice makes decent sense to me. Getting China involved in the negotiations would probably enrage the USA further, they've got a lot of tension and ego tied up between them. Pakistan seemed odd at first, but really... That's probably the advantage, there. They've got a lot of their own baggage, but most of it doesn't really step on the USA's ego.
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gao7on Apr 15, 2026 +3
Beyond mere ego, perhaps China has too much vested interests with both nations; China being the largest oil importer from Iran, accounting for 80-90% of all oil Iran ships abroad. The US being China's top export destination. 15% of China's total crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. 11% of China's total exports go to the US, worth over $420 billion annually. Given Xi's upcoming tariff negotiations with Trump, Iran may ultimately become a bargaining chess piece for China.... hence, not the best candidate as an impartial mediator.
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Fun_Necessary1021 Apr 15, 2026 +1
ISI has their hands in every cookie jar I bet
1
Shot-Toe-2884 Apr 15, 2026 +1
Yea as much as Trump pretends to be best friends with Xi, he is not. The US did not want China as a mediator.
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GoneSilent Apr 15, 2026 +11
Did the bases move and need semi real time targeting?
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jeffersonianMI Apr 15, 2026 +15
Some of those hits on planes were pretty precise. 
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Murky_Meaning2129 Apr 15, 2026 +12
Down to the exact radar section of the AWACS plane in Saudi Arabia… with a ballistic missile of all things. Like sure maybe there was just amazing luck involved, but if not then the precision of just that hit is really bewildering. Iran doesn’t even have the state of the art missiles like what the expected superpowers have, so the satellite system that was being used for the guidance was impressive.
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GoneSilent Apr 15, 2026 +1
It was on the normal parking apron the one that lost its rear. Also impacts on other aprons that did not have aircraft parked on them. So targeting did not seem to be real time. The US made no effort to move around aircraft during missile threat from reports everyone bunkered up. Vs say how russia flys or moves everything around during threat times now with Ukraine.
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ExpensiveBookkeeper3 Apr 15, 2026 +6
No but things on the base move. Like jets.
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DateMasamusubi Apr 15, 2026 +9
Is anybody surprised? North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China have ties. Iran's ballistic missile programme is essentially from North Korea.
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rtea777 Apr 15, 2026 +1
Fun fact - North Korea is also a major arms supplier of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis
1
whatdabee Apr 15, 2026 +2
It's okay, Xi apparently will give Trump a big fat hug and everything will be resolved.
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skibbin Apr 15, 2026 +3
The enemy of my enemy is my friend - Old Arabic proverb عدو عدوي صديقي
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ITSHOBBSMA Apr 15, 2026 +1
I’m sure China had no issue granting them this.
1
Budgeko Apr 15, 2026 +1
Did we use Chinese satellites to take out all of Irans leaders? 🇺🇸
1
HP844182 Apr 15, 2026
They have Google Maps too?
0
greenpowerade Apr 15, 2026
Are these bases hidden? Do you really need a spy satellite to find them?
0
anders_hansson Apr 15, 2026 +2
No but you want to know what assets are there end their precise locations. No point in wasting expensive missiles on destroying asphalt.
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No-Faithlessness2879 Apr 15, 2026 -7
Like the U.S. and China don’t have ties? The U.S. is Chinas biggest trade partner, China is a top 3 trade partner to the U.S. China isn’t going to throw away their relationship with the U.S. to help Iran. I’d need more sources to confirm this is true before passing judgement.
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Ashkev1983 Apr 15, 2026 +1
China relies heavily on oil from iran to power its industries. There is a good reason why Iran sells 80% of its oil to china. It gives china what it needs and china helps them with tech iran doesnt have. China can't afford for iran's oil infrastructure to collapse as it will hurt them. US and china have diplomatic ties but they are not friends, they are adversaries. US needs china more than china needs US. if shipments of rare minerals stops, US will not be produce its "mighty war machines". Also, china holds 600B of US bonds which if they dump, china will lose but US will suffer even more. Lastly, if US stops china from exporting to US they will find other marlets. china will suffer but who will provide Americans with consumer goods? There is no near term alternative to china.
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Ultra_Metal Apr 15, 2026 -3
It's time for the US to sanction China, a state sponsor of terrorism and a state that has facilitated the killing of US soldiers.
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MatioyrsIfo Apr 15, 2026 +1
The country that the US needs to sanction is Israel who is a terrorist nation and killing many US soldiers bombing that US warship.
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Ultra_Metal Apr 16, 2026 +1
False
1
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