3 hrs ago
Trump’s China Weapons Offer Puts Taiwan Arms Policy Under Scrutiny
David Perdue, the US ambassador to China, said President Donald Trump once asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether China wanted to buy American weapons.
Perdue did not say exactly when Trump made the offer.
The White House said the United States has no plans to sell weapons to China.
The State Department said American law does not allow those sales.
Perdue also said Trump and Xi discussed American weapons sales to Taiwan.
The United States sells weapons to Taiwan to help it defend itself, even though Washington does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country.
China wants the United States to stop selling weapons to Taiwan and to oppose Taiwan independence.
A large $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan has reportedly been delayed or paused.
The different statements have raised questions about how the United States is managing relations with China while supporting Taiwan.
David Perdue said Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China wanted to buy American-made weapons.
The White House said there are no plans to sell arms to China, while the State Department cited a legal prohibition.
Perdue said Trump and Xi also discussed future US weapons sales to Taiwan during their recent meeting.
A proposed $14 billion Taiwan weapons package was reportedly paused or delayed after Trump called it a negotiating chip.
China has urged Washington to oppose Taiwan independence and stop arms sales to Taiwan, while the US says it supports Taiwan’s defense.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, US ambassador to China David Perdue, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
- What
- Perdue said Trump offered to sell American-made weapons to China and discussed US arms sales to Taiwan with Xi.
- Where
- The remarks were made in a Fox News interview, while the reported discussions involved US-China diplomacy at the White House.
- When
- Perdue made the comments on Sunday; the timing of the reported offer is unclear, while the Taiwan discussion was linked to a meeting the previous week.
- Why
- The issue concerns US support for Taiwan, Chinese opposition to Taiwan arms sales and independence, and efforts to manage tensions between Washington and Beijing.
US Support for Taiwan and Reported Discussions
Legal Limits and Chinese Objections
Potential weapons sales to China
US Support for Taiwan and Reported Discussions
David Perdue said Trump asked Xi whether China would like to buy American-made weapons.
Legal Limits and Chinese Objections
The White House said there are no plans to sell arms to China, and the State Department said US law prohibits such sales.
Weapons sales to Taiwan
US Support for Taiwan and Reported Discussions
The United States says it supports Taiwan’s ability to defend itself and Perdue said Trump and Xi discussed future Taiwan arms sales.
Legal Limits and Chinese Objections
China has urged Washington to stop arming Taiwan and to oppose Taiwan independence.
Delayed weapons package
US Support for Taiwan and Reported Discussions
The reported pause of the $14 billion package has been described as a negotiating approach or as a consideration of US military stockpiles.
Legal Limits and Chinese Objections
China treats Taiwan’s status and US arms sales to the island as highly sensitive sovereignty issues and wants Washington to change its policy.
Key facts
- Reported offer
- David Perdue said Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China wanted to buy US-made weapons.
- White House response
- The White House said there are no plans to sell arms to China.
- Legal restriction
- The State Department said US law prohibits arms sales to China.
- Taiwan package
- A proposed US weapons package for Taiwan was valued at $14 billion and has reportedly been paused or delayed.
- Trump’s description
- Trump reportedly called the Taiwan weapons package a “very good negotiating chip” with China.
- China’s position
- China has pressed Washington to stop arms sales to Taiwan and oppose Taiwan independence.
- US position
- Washington does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country but continues to support its defense with weapons.
Quotes
David Perdue
US ambassador to China and source of the Fox News remarks
“President Trump continues to say: hey, we sell arms to other people around the world. He actually asked President Xi if he would like to buy some at one point?”
theprint.in
NDTV
“Trump is as strong on Taiwan as I've ever seen anybody.”
NDTV
Sources
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