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US ambassador to Beijing David Perdue claimed that President Donald Trump offered to sell weapons to Chinese president Xi Jinping during his recent state visit to Washington. This claim contradicts statements from a White House official and a State Department representative, who both assert there are no plans or legal basis to sell arms to China due to US law prohibiting such sales. The issue arises in the context of ongoing tensions over Taiwan, where the US is obligated by the Taiwan Relations Act to support military equipment for its defense.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 27, US Ambassador to China David Perdue revealed that President Donald Trump had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping if he wanted to buy American weapons during Xi's state visit to the United States. This surprising admission came as part of discussions about a pending $14 billion arms sale package to Taiwan, which Beijing views as its territory but considers self-governing. The State Department quickly clarified that US law prohibits arms sales to China and there are no plans for such deals.
The statement by Perdue sparked debates over the nature of Trump’s inquiry—whether it was a joke or a serious offer—and raised questions about potential shifts in U.S. policy towards Taiwan, which seeks stronger defense against perceived threats from China. The White House confirmed that the United States has no plans to sell weapons to China despite President Trump's comment, highlighting the complex dynamics between Washington and Beijing regarding regional security and arms sales.
Written for “Trump Offered Weapons To China” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 16 other(s) covering the same event.
President Donald Trump offered to sell weapons to Chinese president Xi Jinping during his state visit last week, the US ambassador to Beijing claimed on Sunday.
asserted
ambassador → offer → Sunday
The lavish trip was Xi’s first to the White House in a decade and discussions between the leaders of the world’s two most powerful economies covered a wide-ranging list of topics, including artificial intelligence and trade.
asserted
discussions → cover → intelligence
Taiwan had celebrated after the visit ended without any substantial agreement on the self-governed island that China claims as its territory.
uncertain
China → celebrate → territory
But during an interview on US foreign policy in Taiwan, ambassador David Perdue claimed that Trump had offered to sell weapons to Xi during his visit.
asserted
Trump → claim → visit
“President Trump continues to say, hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,” Mr Perdue told Fox News on Sunday.
asserted
Perdue → continue → Sunday
“He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some at one point.”
asserted
he → ask → point
The Trump administration has kept an $14bn arms sale package to Taiwan in abeyance, which the US leader has called a “very good negotiating chip”.
asserted
leader → keep → which
Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the US is obligated to support Taipei with military equipment to defend itself.
asserted
US → obligate → itself
The White House told the New York Times that the US has no plans to sell arms to China with a state department official adding: “US law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no offer or plan to sell arms to China.”
asserted
law → tell → China
Perdue had previously told CNBC on Friday that there had been no change in policy in regards to Taiwan, including arms sales.
asserted
Perdue → tell → sales
Chinese state media reported that Xi had pressed Trump on Taiwan, saying that he hoped the US would “handle the Taiwan question with prudence.”
asserted
US → report → prudence
Xi hoped that “the US side will adhere to the correct position of opposing 'Taiwan independence',” according to state media reports.
uncertain
side → hop → reports
Taiwan's deputy foreign minister Francois Wu suggested Trump had done the right thing for America’s own interests by not bowing to Chinese pressure on the issue.
uncertain
Trump → suggest → issue
He said that maintaining weapons sales to Taiwan to allow the island to defend itself as well as “allowing Taiwan's semiconductor industry to continue contributing to the world” were “important US interests”.
asserted
industry → say → world
Meanwhile, deputy foreign minister Chen Ming-chi added: “Taiwan faces a severe situation in the Taiwan strait.
asserted
Taiwan → add → strait
Even though China’s economy is declining, it continues investing more resources into building military capacity.
asserted
it → decline → capacity
Under this context, the US very much understands our defence needs.”
asserted
US → understand → needs
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
asserted
Independent → contact → comment
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