Trump asked Xi Jinping if China wanted to buy American weapons, US ambassador says
US Ambassador to China David Perdue revealed that Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether Beijing would buy American weapons, leading the State Department to reiterate that federal law prohibits arms transfers to China.
Ambassador discloses weapons inquiry
US Ambassador to China David Perdue stated during a television appearance on Fox News Sunday that President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether Beijing would be interested in purchasing American weapons. The exchange occurred during broader discussions surrounding Washington's defense sales to foreign partners. Perdue explained that Trump downplayed pending arms transfers to Taiwan by framing them as standard global trade before raising the question directly with Xi.
Perdue described the conversation after lawmakers questioned the administration over delayed military deliveries to Taiwan.
He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some, at one point.
Perdue did not state whether the inquiry occurred during Xi's state visit to Washington last week or during their earlier meeting in Beijing. The ambassador rejected suggestions that the administration is holding back arms from Taiwan to appease Beijing, maintaining that Trump has sold more military equipment to the island than any president since 1979.
- Washington approves an $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan
- Trump meets Xi in Beijing and pauses a $14 billion Taiwan weapons package
- China warns Taiwan against seeking independence through US military backing
- Xi visits Washington for state talks; Perdue discloses Trump's arms inquiry
Administration denies export plans
Following Perdue's televised remarks, government officials stated that the United States does not intend to export military hardware to Beijing. A White House official told reporters that the administration has no plans to sell arms to China, while the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The State Department issued a formal statement ruling out any such transactions.
U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no offer or plan to sell arms to China.
Federal legislation strictly limits defense exports to Beijing, which American officials across both political parties classify as the primary military rival to the United States. In addition, Washington has previously imposed sanctions on Chinese companies for supplying dual-use equipment and satellite imagery to Russia and Iran.
Taiwan aid and summit negotiations
The controversy surrounding weapons sales follows ongoing delays in defense packages intended for Taiwan. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington is required to provide the self-ruled island with sufficient defensive weaponry. In December, the United States approved an arms package for Taiwan valued at $11.1 billion. However, following a bilateral meeting in Beijing in May, the administration paused an additional $14 billion package, with Trump subsequently referring to Taiwan arms sales as a negotiating chip.
- December approved package
- 11.1 $ billion
- Paused package
- 14 $ billion
During talks at the White House last week, Xi urged Trump to formally oppose Taiwan independence, according to Chinese state media. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has consistently refused to renounce the use of military force. In June, Chinese authorities issued a warning stating that seeking independence through American military support represents a dead end for Taipei.
Strategic concerns and congressional scrutiny
Foreign policy specialists noted that raising weapons sales with Beijing risks complicating regional deterrence. Zack Cooper, an Asia security expert at the American Enterprise Institute, stated that offering arms to China while holding back approved shipments to Taiwan undermines American strategic commitments in the Pacific. Dennis Wilder, a former Asia adviser to George W. Bush, warned that even casual remarks about weapons sales create uncertainty among regional allies.
Even joking about an issue of great importance to Taiwan and our allies in east Asia may redouble existing doubts about the seriousness with which the president takes the threat of Chinese military aggression.
Members of Congress from both parties continue to press the administration regarding the schedule for delivering backlogged defense equipment to Taipei. Bilateral discussions between Washington and Beijing have also addressed economic topics, including a framework providing $30 billion in reciprocal tariff relief, yet arms policy in the Taiwan Strait remains an active point of diplomatic friction.
