President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether China would be interested in purchasing weapons from the United States, according to U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue. The unusual proposal comes as Washington and Beijing continue navigating tensions over Taiwan, military sales and the broader relationship between the two global powers.
An Unexpected Offer Between Strategic Rivals
Perdue said Trump raised the possibility of selling American weapons directly to China, a country widely regarded as one of the United States’ primary geopolitical and military competitors.
The ambassador discussed the exchange during an appearance with Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday,” following Xi’s state visit to Washington. Perdue did not specify exactly when Trump made the offer.
According to Perdue, Trump has framed American arms sales as something the United States conducts with countries around the world rather than as an issue aimed specifically at China.
“But President Trump continues to say, ‘Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,’” Perdue said.
Perdue added that Trump then asked Xi whether China itself would be interested in purchasing American weapons.
Taiwan Remains at the Center of the Debate
The comments emerged during a discussion about U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan, one of the most sensitive issues in relations between Washington and Beijing.
Taiwan governs itself as a democracy, while China considers the island part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to bring it under its control. The United States does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent country but remains its strongest informal supporter and major arms supplier.
Under U.S. law, Washington is required to provide Taiwan with the means necessary to maintain sufficient defensive capabilities.
Bream raised concerns expressed by both Republican and Democratic lawmakers regarding delayed aid packages and weapons orders for Taiwan. She questioned whether Washington was holding back military support in an effort to avoid angering Xi.
Perdue rejected that characterization and argued that Trump remained strongly supportive of Taiwan. He also said discussions between Trump and Xi regarding future American weapons sales to Taiwan were continuing.
A $14 Billion Weapons Package Draws Attention
China has repeatedly called on Washington to stop selling military equipment to Taiwan, and the issue featured prominently during an earlier Trump-Xi summit in Beijing in May.
Following that meeting, the United States paused a record $14 billion arms package for Taiwan. Trump subsequently described Taiwan weapons sales as a negotiating tool in discussions with China.
The pause has increased scrutiny of the administration’s approach as lawmakers and officials consider how military assistance to Taiwan fits into the wider U.S.-China relationship.
For Beijing, American military support for Taiwan remains a major point of contention. For Washington, Taiwan is closely connected to questions surrounding security, deterrence and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Xi Raises Taiwan During White House Talks
Taiwan was also discussed during Xi’s recent meetings with Trump at the White House.
According to Chinese state media, Xi urged Trump during their private discussions to oppose Taiwanese independence, reinforcing Beijing’s longstanding position on the island.
The United States has traditionally maintained a deliberately ambiguous position over whether American forces would directly intervene if China attacked Taiwan. At the same time, Washington has continued supplying the island with weapons intended to strengthen its ability to defend itself.
That balance has remained one of the most complicated elements of U.S.-China diplomacy as both countries attempt to prevent their strategic competition from escalating into direct confrontation.
Beijing Responds Without Confirming the Exchange
China’s government did not confirm Perdue’s account when Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun was questioned about the reported weapons offer.
Instead, Guo said China develops its national defense capabilities according to its own requirements and remains committed to maintaining global peace and stability.
The response left unanswered whether Beijing seriously considered Trump’s proposal or whether the exchange was intended primarily to illustrate the president’s broader argument regarding American arms sales.
Arms Sales Add a New Twist to US-China Relations
The reported conversation adds another unusual dimension to a relationship already shaped by disputes over Taiwan, trade, artificial intelligence, technology and military power.
Any significant American weapons sale to China would represent a dramatic departure from decades of U.S. policy and could raise major national security concerns surrounding sensitive American military technology.
For now, there is no indication that an arms agreement between Washington and Beijing is moving forward. However, Perdue’s account highlights how weapons sales, particularly those involving Taiwan, remain part of the broader negotiations between Trump and Xi as the United States and China attempt to manage one of the world’s most consequential geopolitical relationships.
