Trump offered to sell arms to China, says US ambassador

US President Donald Trump proposed selling arms to China in response to concerns surrounding weapons sales to Taiwan, according to the US ambassador to China, David Perdue. The ambassador made these remarks during a Fox News interview that aired on Sunday. China views Taiwan as a part of its territory, and US arms sales to the self-governing island have been a contentious issue between Washington and Beijing for a long time.

The United States has a legal obligation to furnish Taiwan with weapons for its defense, as it is a democracy with an elected president and legislature. US Ambassador to China David Perdue mentioned that the issue was raised again when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the United States last week. President Trump continues to assert that the country sells arms to various nations worldwide and even asked President Xi whether he would be interested in purchasing some, according to Perdue.

They discuss potential sales every time they meet, he added, emphasizing that the US stance remains unchanged. In June, China cautioned Taiwan that pursuing independence through reliance on the United States or military action is a futile endeavor. Washington had already authorized an arms sale worth US$11.1 billion to Taiwan in December, which Perdue stated was the largest arms sale to Taiwan by any president since 1979.

During his visit to Washington, Xi reiterated his warning to Trump to exercise caution regarding Taiwan and went further by urging the US to explicitly oppose Taiwan independence. In May, Trump had suggested that an upcoming arms package for Taipei could be utilized as a negotiating tool with China, sparking fears that Taiwan's security could be bartered away.