President Donald Trump announced that the United States confiscated a vessel on Monday that contained items described as not being 'very nice,' referring to it as a 'gift from China.'
Trump did not disclose the location of the ship's seizure, whether it was registered under a Chinese flag, or the nature of its cargo.
'I was a little surprised, but because I have a very good relationship, and I thought I had an understanding with President Xi, but that's alright, that's the way war goes, right?' Trump told in an interview to CNBC.
Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet in Beijing in mid-May, amid ongoing tensions over the Iran conflict and China's alleged provision of air defense systems to Iran.
The last publicly documented phone conversation between Trump and President Xi occurred in early February, with both leaders reporting a positive discussion.
