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

On Monday, US President Donald Trump rejected claims that he had offered to sell arms to China, countering his own ambassador to China, David Perdue. Perdue had stated in an interview with Fox News that Trump had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping if he would be interested in purchasing American weapons during Xi's state visit to the White House.

However, Trump told reporters that he was unaware of Perdue's claim and suggested that it might be a good idea for China to buy American weapons, as they produce higher-quality equipment. The US Ambassador to China dismissed Trump's comments, stating that US law prohibits arms sales to China and that there is no plan to sell arms to China.

Chinese President Xi reiterated his warning to Trump about Taiwan during the visit, urging the US to oppose Taiwan independence explicitly. The issue of US arms sales to Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory and threatens to take by force, remains a sensitive topic between Washington and Beijing.