During a visit to the White House last week, President Donald Trump suggested directly to Chinese leader Xi Jinping that China purchase American military hardware, according to an interview on Fox News by U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue. However, a State Department official told the Daily Mail that current law prohibits arms sales to China and there are no plans for such sales despite Trump’s proposition. The article highlights this unusual diplomatic approach as a significant departure from established foreign policy towards China.
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.
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President Donald Trump pitched an unconventional business proposition directly to Chinese leader Xi Jinping when he visited the White House last week: an invitation to purchase American military hardware.
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he → sign → hardware
The revelation came to light during a television interview on Sunday, courtesy of US Ambassador to China David Perdue.
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revelation → come → Perdue
'President Trump continues to say, 'Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world.
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we → continue → world
He actually asked President Xi... would he like to buy some at one point,' Perdue said on Fox News, without revealing any more details about the results of their conversation.
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Perdue → ask → conversation
However, current law 'prohibits arms sales to China,' a State Department official told the Daily Mail.
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official → prohibit → Mail
In addition, a US official added there is no plan to sell any weapons to China, despite the ambassador's shocking admission.
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official → add → admission
Perdue was also asked during the interview if there are concerns about the weapon and military aid for Taiwan that has been held up.
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that → ask → Taiwan
The US ambassador to China responded by saying that President Trump had green-lighted $11 billion in arms sales to Taiwan last year and that there are ongoing conversations about other potential purchases.
'He and President Xi talk about that every time they get together,' Perdue told the Fox News host, adding that Trump argued that the US sells arms to other countries globally.
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US → respond → countries
The notion of the White House dangling high-tech American weaponry before Beijing is nothing short of a seismic break with modern foreign policy.
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House → dangle → policy
President Donald Trump pitched an unconventional business proposition directly to Chinese leader Xi Jinping: an invitation to purchase American military hardware
'He and President Xi talk about that every time they get together,' Perdue told the Fox News host, adding that Trump argued that the US sells arms to other countries globally
Jinping and Trump followed by Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan and US first lady Melania Trump arrive for a state dinner in the East Room of the White House on September 24
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Jinping → pitch → September
For decades, Washington's establishment has viewed the Communist-ruled superpower as the ultimate challenger to the US and the lone global heavyweight capable of rivaling US economic might, diplomatic reach and military dominance.
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establishment → view → might
China boasts the planet's most rapidly expanding military machine, prompting administrations of both parties to sound the alarm for decades over the terrifying prospect of a brawl between the two nuclear-armed superpowers.
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China → boast → superpowers
One major concern is over the fiercely contested sovereignty of Taiwan amid aggressive territorial maneuvers by Beijing in the South and East China Seas that threaten key US allies.
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that → contest → allies
Trump's startling sales pitch comes against a backdrop of deep-seated hostility, with US officials warning that state-backed Chinese defense firms are actively propping up America's main global adversaries.
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firms → come → adversaries
Beijing has given the green light for domestic companies to supply Iran and Russia with critical dual-use technology and high-grade satellite imagery, alongside covert plans to export lethal weaponry.
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companies → give → weaponry
These activities have already triggered a wave of American sanctions targeting multiple Chinese enterprises.
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activities → trigger → enterprises
As America's historic military dominance in the Asia-Pacific wanes, accelerated by resources being diverted to the war against Iran, the US defense sector is simultaneously buckling under production shortfalls.
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sector → wan → shortfalls
The New York Times reports that the White House is currently sitting on a stalled $14 billion arms package for Taiwan.
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House → report → Taiwan
Though State Department officials crafted the package and congressional leaders signed off on it earlier this year, the crucial shipment has stalled indefinitely within the department.
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shipment → craft → department
Senators from both sides of the aisle sent a letter to Trump in May of this year, pleading with him to consider restarting the sales.
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Senators → send → sales
Trump shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping in the East Room of the White House during a State Dinner
The New York Times reports that the White House is currently sitting on a stalled $14 billion arms package for Taiwan
Beijing has given the green light for domestic companies to supply Iran and Russia with critical dual-use technology and high-grade satellite imagery, alongside covert plans to export lethal weaponry
Adding fuel to the fire, President Trump candidly admitted during a May Fox News interview in Beijing that he was deliberately freezing the Taiwan shipments to keep them in reserve as a high-value 'negotiating chip' with Xi Jinping.
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he → shake → Jinping
With talks back on the calendar, Trump revealed last week that he will sit down with Xi in China during a November regional summit, ahead of a reciprocal visit by the Chinese President to the US in December.
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he → reveal → December
The Daily Mail reached out to the White House for comment.
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Mail → reach → comment
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