Trump denies offering to sell arms to China’s Xi, but says ‘maybe it’s a good idea’

US President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he never asked Chinese President Xi Jinping if he wanted to purchase American weapons, despite claims by US Ambassador to China David Perdue. Perdue, speaking on Fox News, said Trump asked Xi if he would like to buy some American arms during a state visit to the White House. However, a US official clarified to AFP that the US government has no plans to sell weapons to China.

The issue of US arms sales to Taiwan, a self-governed island China claims as part of its territory, has long been a contentious topic between the two nations. US law prohibits arms sales to China, and the Chinese foreign ministry did not address the allegations but affirmed its commitment to maintaining peace and stability. The US has approved an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, described by Perdue as the largest sale to Taiwan since 1979, and paused a $14 billion purchase in May, viewing it as a "negotiating chip" in discussions with China.