Trump-Xi Taiwan arms row deepens after ambassador says China was asked about buying US weapons
US President Donald Trump reportedly asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether China would be interested in buying American weapons during their meeting in Washington last week, according to remarks attributed to US ambassador to China David Perdue. The claim adds a new layer to an already sensitive dispute over Taiwan, where Washington has been weighing a delayed arms package worth $14bn. It also comes as Beijing continues to oppose US arms sales to the island.
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Perdue said Trump raised the idea while discussing US weapons sales more broadly, telling Fox News that the president asked Xi whether China would like to buy some. The comments were made as questions persisted over the pace of support for Taiwan, which has been waiting for months for approval of the package. Perdue also said Trump continues to support Taiwan, while the White House and State Department later said there were no plans to sell arms to China and that US law prohibits such sales.
The issue matters because Taiwan sits at the centre of US-China security tensions and any change in arms policy can affect deterrence in the Taiwan Strait. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States is required to provide Taiwan with sufficient military equipment to defend itself, even though Washington does not formally recognise the island as a sovereign state. Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, has repeatedly said it "resolutely opposes" US arms sales to the island.
The reported exchange also follows a period of mixed signals from Washington. Trump previously described the Taiwan package as a "very good negotiating chip" during a meeting with Xi in Beijing in May, according to the earlier reporting cited in the row. That has fuelled concern among Taiwan supporters that the issue could be used in wider US-China bargaining, even as the island faces what its deputy foreign minister described as a severe military threat from China.
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Xi, for his part, reportedly urged Trump during the Washington meeting to oppose "Taiwan independence," according to a readout from the official Chinese news agency. That reflects Beijing's long-standing position and underscores how central Taiwan remains to the bilateral relationship. The island's defence posture has depended heavily on US arms sales for decades, and delays to major packages are closely watched in Taipei and in Washington.
What remains unclear is whether Trump's reported question was a serious proposal, a negotiating tactic or a passing remark. It is also not clear whether the delayed Taiwan package will move forward or whether the latest comments will affect the pace of future decisions. The next developments to watch are any further statements from Washington, Taipei or Beijing, and whether the arms issue becomes part of broader trade and security talks.
US President Donald Trump reportedly asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether China would be interested in buying American weapons during Xi's state visit to Washington last week, according to remarks attributed to US ambassador David Perdue. Perdue said Trump also downplayed US arms sales to Taiwan during the conversation, describing them as one of many weapons deals Washington conducts around the world. The reported exchange adds a new and unusual detail to already sensitive discussions over Taiwan, China and US defence policy.
Perdue made the comments in an interview on Fox News Sunday, but did not say exactly when the offer was made. He said Trump raised the possibility of selling US weapons to China, a move that would be highly unusual given the strategic rivalry between the two countries. Perdue also said Trump continues to support Taiwan strongly and has sold many weapons to the island.
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He rejected the suggestion that Washington was withholding arms from Taipei to please Xi. The issue is significant because Taiwan remains one of the most contentious points in US-China relations. Beijing does not recognise Taiwan as an independent country and regards it as a breakaway province, while Taipei maintains its own government and claims legitimacy over all of China.
The United States is legally required to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, even though it does not formally recognise the island as a sovereign state. Any shift in the tone or pace of arms sales can therefore carry diplomatic and security implications well beyond the immediate exchange. The reported remarks also come against a backdrop of concern among lawmakers in both major US parties about delays to aid packages and weapons requests for Taiwan.
That concern was reflected in the interview, where questions were raised about whether Washington was slowing support for Taipei while engaging with Xi. Perdue said Trump and Xi continue to discuss future US arms sales to Taiwan, suggesting the issue remains active in bilateral talks. The comments are likely to draw attention because they touch on a long-running policy balance between deterrence, trade and diplomacy.
Taiwan has been a central issue in US-China relations for decades, with Washington maintaining a policy of strategic ambiguity over whether it would use military force to defend the island in the event of an attack. The island's status has remained unresolved since 1949, when the Communist takeover of mainland China left the defeated nationalist government in Taiwan. Since then, US arms sales have been a key part of Taiwan's defence posture, while also remaining a source of friction with Beijing.
The reported suggestion that China itself might buy US weapons would, if ever pursued, mark a striking departure from that established pattern. What remains unclear is whether Trump's reported question was a serious proposal, a negotiating tactic or a passing remark during the meeting. Perdue did not provide details on timing, context or any response from Xi.
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