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Trump Offers to Sell Weapons to China Amid Taiwan Arms Tensions, U.S. Envoy Says
28 September 2026 20:09 PM
NEWS DESK
U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed selling American weapons to China despite ongoing tensions over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, according to U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue.
In an interview with Fox News aired on Sunday, Perdue said the issue was discussed again during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington last week.
According to the ambassador, Trump told Xi that the United States sells weapons to countries around the world before asking whether the Chinese leader would be interested in purchasing some.
"We sell weapons to countries all over the world," Trump reportedly said, before asking Xi, "Would you like to buy some?"
Perdue said discussions on broader arms sales have continued, adding, "Whenever President Trump and President Xi meet, they talk about this issue."
The remarks come against the backdrop of continued U.S. military support for Taiwan. In December last year, Washington approved an $11.1 billion arms package for the self-governing island.
According to Perdue, Trump has authorized more arms sales to Taiwan than any U.S. president since 1979, when Washington formally shifted diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing while maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan.
Under U.S. law, Washington is permitted to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons to help the island maintain its self-defense capabilities. China, however, considers Taiwan part of its territory and has long opposed U.S. arms sales to Taipei, making the issue a persistent source of tension between Washington and Beijing.
In June, China warned Taiwan that efforts to pursue independence through military means or by relying on U.S. support would not succeed.
During his recent visit to Washington, Xi also urged Trump to oppose Taiwan’s independence. Similar appeals have been made by Chinese leaders during previous high-level meetings between the two countries, calling on U.S. presidents to exercise caution in handling the Taiwan issue.
