Trump asked Xi if Beijing wanted US weapons: a joke, a gambit or something more?

During President Trump's state visit to China, US Ambassador to China David Perdue revealed to a Fox News interviewer that the American president had inquired whether Beijing would be interested in purchasing American military weapons, according to Perdue. The ambassador did not specify when the question was asked, what prompted it, or the Chinese leader's response.

However, a State Department official swiftly clarified that US law prohibits arms sales to China and that there is no intention to sell weapons to the country. The disclosure came amid the ongoing tensions between the US and China over Taiwan, with Washington continuing to hold up a roughly US$14 billion weapons package for the self-governed island in an effort to deter a potential Chinese invasion.

This move by Trump has raised eyebrows among Asia specialists and policy experts, as it contrasts sharply with the US's long-standing policy of not selling conventional weapons to Beijing and instead focusing on deterring a potential conflict with the country. The episode has left analysts wondering whether Trump was being serious or merely making a rhetorical move, especially given the ongoing dispute over Taiwan, where Beijing considers the island part of its territory and Washington opposes any military action against it.