Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Trump Asked Xi About Buying U.S. Weapons Amid Taiwan Tensions
David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China, said President Donald Trump once asked Chinese President Xi Jinping if China wanted to buy American weapons.
Perdue did not say exactly when Trump made the comment or whether Xi answered.
U.S. officials later said there are no plans to sell weapons to China.
The State Department said American law prohibits those sales.
Trump and Xi also discussed U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan.
The United States sells weapons to Taiwan to help it defend itself, although it does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country.
China says Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes American arms sales to the island.
A separate $14 billion Taiwan weapons package has reportedly been delayed.
Trump has described that package as a useful negotiating tool with China.
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 U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan during their recent meeting.
A separate $14 billion Taiwan weapons package has reportedly been delayed, with Trump calling it a negotiating chip.
China opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and has urged Washington to oppose Taiwan independence.
- Who
- Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, David Perdue, and U.S. officials, including the State Department.
- What
- Perdue said Trump asked Xi about buying American weapons and discussed future U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with him.
- When
- Perdue made the comments on a Sunday Fox News interview, days after Xi’s recent visit to Washington; the timing of the reported offer is unclear.
- Where
- The remarks were made on Fox News, while the reported discussions occurred during U.S.-China diplomatic meetings in Washington or at an unspecified earlier meeting.
- Why
- The comments concerned U.S. support for Taiwan, China’s opposition to Taiwan arms sales and independence, and efforts to manage tensions between Washington and Beijing.
U.S. Support for Taiwan and Engagement
Legal Limits and Chinese Objections
Reported weapons offer to China
U.S. Support for Taiwan and Engagement
Perdue said Trump asked Xi whether China would like to buy American-made weapons while explaining that the United States sells arms around the world.
Legal Limits and Chinese Objections
The White House said there are no plans to sell arms to China, and the State Department said U.S. law prohibits such sales.
Arms sales to Taiwan
U.S. Support for Taiwan and Engagement
The United States says it supports Taiwan’s ability to defend itself, and Perdue said Trump and Xi discussed future Taiwan weapons sales.
Legal Limits and Chinese Objections
China regards Taiwan as its territory, opposes American arms sales to the island, and has urged Washington to oppose Taiwan independence.
Delayed $14 billion package
U.S. Support for Taiwan and Engagement
The package has been presented as support for Taiwan’s defense, while Trump described it as a negotiating chip with Beijing.
Legal Limits and Chinese Objections
The reported delay raised concerns among Taiwan and U.S. observers that military support could become part of broader negotiations with China.
- Reported offer
- David Perdue said Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China wanted to buy American-made weapons.
- U.S. clarification
- The White House said there are no plans to sell arms to China.
- Legal restriction
- The State Department said U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China and that there was no offer or plan to sell arms to Beijing.
- Taiwan package
- A separate Taiwan weapons package was valued at $14 billion and has reportedly been delayed or paused.
- Recent Taiwan sale
- The United States approved an $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, according to one report.
- Trump’s description
- Trump reportedly described the $14 billion Taiwan deal as a “very good negotiating chip” with China.
- China’s position
- China opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and has urged Washington to oppose Taiwan independence.
