China rejects Trump accusation that intercepted Iran ship was 'gift from China'

Beijing pushes back as allegations draw diplomatic response on trade conduct

China's foreign ministry on Friday rejected an accusation by US President Donald Trump that an Iranian-flagged cargo ship intercepted by US forces was a "gift from China."

The US said it fired on and seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to evade its blockade of Iranian ports. Iran's military said the ship had been travelling from China and vowed retaliation against what it called "armed piracy by the US military."

Trump on Tuesday told CNBC the ship "had some things on it, which wasn't very nice. A gift from China perhaps, I don't know."

China's foreign ministry rejected the comments.

"China opposes any accusations and associations that lack a factual basis," ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

"Normal international trade relations between countries should not be subject to interference and disruption," he added.

The container ship Touska, which was boarded and seized by US forces on Sunday, is likely to have what Washington deems dual-use items that could be used by the military on board, maritime security sources said on Monday.