US President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether China wanted to buy American weapons, according to US Ambassador to China David Perdue.
Perdue made the claim in a Fox News interview that aired Sunday. He said the exchange took place amid ongoing discussions between Washington and Beijing over US arms sales to Taiwan.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and strongly opposes American military support for the self-governing island. US arms sales to Taiwan have remained a major source of tension between the two countries.
Perdue Describes Trump’s Conversation With Xi
Perdue said the issue of US weapons sales came up again when Xi visited the United States last week.
“President Trump continues to say, ‘Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world.’ He actually asked President Xi — would he like to buy some? — at one point,” Perdue said.
The ambassador added that Trump and Xi continue to discuss potential weapons sales during their meetings.
Perdue said the broader US position on the issue has not changed.
The comments come as Washington and Beijing continue to negotiate over several sensitive issues, including Taiwan, trade and military relations.
US Arms Sales to Taiwan Remain a Key Issue
The United States approved an $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan in December. Perdue said the package represented more US weapons for Taiwan than any previous presidential administration had approved since 1979.
Washington maintains that its support for Taiwan is part of its longstanding security policy. Beijing, however, considers US arms sales to Taiwan interference in China’s internal affairs.
In June, China warned Taiwan against pursuing independence with US backing or through military means. Beijing described such an approach as a dead end.
Xi also raised the Taiwan issue during his latest visit to Washington. According to Perdue, the Chinese leader urged Trump to exercise “prudence” over Taiwan.
Xi also called on the United States to explicitly oppose Taiwan independence.
Taiwan Arms Could Become Part of US-China Talks
The latest comments also revive questions about whether Taiwan-related weapons sales could become part of wider negotiations between Washington and Beijing.
Trump suggested in May that a future arms package for Taiwan could potentially serve as a negotiating tool with China. That raised concerns among some observers about whether Taiwan’s security could become linked to US-China bargaining.
Beijing has consistently opposed American military support for Taiwan. Washington, meanwhile, continues to maintain its longstanding policy toward the island.
The latest remarks from Perdue provide another indication of how Taiwan remains intertwined with the broader US-China relationship.
For now, there has been no indication that Washington has changed its policy on arms sales to Taiwan. The ambassador’s comments instead highlight the continuing discussions between Trump and Xi over one of the most sensitive issues in their relationship.
