Former CIA Director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo startled Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner on Monday when he flatly asserted that Americas frenemy China would, in fact, give money to Iran despite Beijings carefully choreographed charm offensive in Washington last week.
The exchange unfolded during a tense segment on Fox News, as reported by Mediaite, when Faulkner pressed Pompeo for a direct answer on Beijings intentions. She framed the question with no room for hedging: All right, real quickly, and it really has to be a yes or no because I want to get to one more thing with you if I can, Secretary. Yes or no, would our frenemy, China, give Iran money?
Yes, Pompeo replied without hesitation, a one-word answer that immediately shifted the tone of the conversation. Ooo, OK. Well follow up on that another day, Faulkner responded, visibly taken aback as she moved on, though her reaction made clear the issue was far from settled in her mind.
Faulkner soon circled back, signaling that Pompeos blunt assessment had raised deeper concerns about the administrations posture toward Beijing and Tehran. Real quickly, your thought on China giving money to Iran? she asked, inviting him to elaborate on the strategic threat.
Look, theyre supporting them already, Pompeo said, expanding on his earlier answer. You see lots of the missiles that are firing have dual-use technologies that are coming from China. The Chinese Communist Party has been allegedly providing targeting data. Theyre killing Americans. The Chinese Communist Party is an adversary, and they are working with the Russians and the Iranians to undermine the United States. Period. Full stop.
Faulkner then noted that the recent high-profile visit by Chinese officials to the United States had not softened Pompeos assessment of Beijings intentions. I noticed you didnt say that the trip took off some of the edge of that because an enemy is just that, she observed, underscoring the gap between diplomatic optics and hard security realities.
Pompeos warning stood in stark contrast to the more conciliatory tone from U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, who has leaned on assurances from Beijing. Xi Jinping has assured Washington that China is not aiding Iran, Perdue told Fox News on Friday, despite mounting reports suggesting otherwise.
Well, this has been a continual conversation over some period of time, Perdue told Fox anchor Bill Hemmer, crediting strong pressure from Republican leadership. President Trump did a great job making sure that China knows that this is unacceptable. Weve seen some movement over the last month as well, but this isnt the first time President Trump has brought it up with President Xi.
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