U.S. Ambassador Says Trump Proposed Arms Sale to China During Xi Visit
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U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue told Fox News that President Donald Trump offered to sell weapons to China while President Xi Jinping was in the United States, a proposal that follows ongoing U.S. arms sales to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act.
U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue told Fox News that President Donald Trump suggested selling weapons to China during Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent visit to the United States. Perdue said Trump asked Xi whether he would be interested in purchasing arms, noting that the two leaders have repeatedly discussed the topic in their meetings.
The United States is obligated by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to provide defensive weapons to Taiwan, which maintains its own elected government. Washington approved an $11.1 billion arms package for Taiwan in December, a sale Perdue described as the largest for any U.S. president since the act's enactment.
China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, has warned that Taiwan's pursuit of independence through reliance on U.S. support or military means would not succeed. During his trip, Xi urged the United States to oppose any moves toward Taiwanese independence and called for prudence in handling the issue. In May, Trump suggested that a future arms package for Taiwan could serve as a bargaining chip in negotiations with China, raising concerns about the security implications for the island.