Trump offered to sell arms to China during Xi visit, US ambassador tells Fox News

US President Donald Trump offered to sell arms to Beijing during a visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the U.S. ambassador to China, David Perdue, who appeared on Fox News. The ambassador stated that the issue of arms sales to Taiwan had been raised again during the U.S.-China talks. The United States is obligated by law to provide Taiwan with weapons under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which recognizes the island as a sovereign state.

Perdue emphasized that Trump had asked Xi if he wanted to purchase weapons, and that the topic remains a point of discussion between the two leaders. China has previously warned Taiwan against seeking independence through any means, including relying on the United States or through military action. In June, Beijing warned Taiwan that seeking independence through U.S. support or military means is an "endless dead end."

The U.S. had approved a $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan in December, the largest single arms sale to Taiwan since 1979. During his trip to Washington, Xi cautioned Trump to exercise caution regarding Taiwan and urged the U.S. to explicitly oppose Taiwan independence. In May, Trump had suggested that an upcoming arms package for Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip with China, raising concerns about Taiwan's security.