Trump Proposed Weapon Sales to China, Says US Ambassador

Trump’s Controversial Proposal to Xi Jinping

During a recent meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, former President Donald Trump allegedly suggested the possibility of selling weapons to China, according to remarks made by the US ambassador to China, David Perdue.

Details from the Interview

In an interview with Fox News, Perdue stated, “President Trump continues to say, hey, we sell arms to other people around the world. He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some at one point.” This claim emerged during a discussion focused on US policy regarding Taiwan.

Context of Taiwan’s Defense Needs

This revelation comes as Taiwan awaits approval for a significant arms package worth $14 billion, which has been pending for several months following a historic deal announced in December. Trump’s commitment to Taiwan’s defense has been a topic of scrutiny, particularly after he referred to the arms package as a “very good negotiating chip” during a previous meeting with Xi in Beijing.

US Policy on Taiwan

The United States has historically maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding its defense of Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. However, the Taiwan Relations Act mandates that the US provide adequate military resources to ensure Taiwan’s self-defense.

Beijing’s Stance

In response to US arms sales to Taiwan, Beijing has consistently expressed strong opposition, viewing Taiwan as a breakaway province. Xi Jinping, during his recent meeting with Trump, reiterated calls for Trump to reject any notion of “Taiwan independence,” as reported by the official Chinese news agency Xinhua.

White House Response

Following Perdue’s comments, the White House clarified to the New York Times that there are no plans to sell arms to China. The State Department reinforced this position, stating, “US law prohibits arms sales to China, and there is no offer or plan to sell arms to China.”

Taiwan’s Military Concerns

Prior to the interview, Taiwanese Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi highlighted the pressing military threat posed by China, noting, “Taiwan faces a severe situation in the Taiwan Strait. Even though China’s economy is declining, it continues investing more resources into building military capacity. Under this context, the US very much understands our defense needs,” he told reporters in Taipei.

Trump’s Recent Statements

Since the summit, Trump has refrained from discussing the potential arms sale, merely stating that Xi understands his stance on Taiwan. Perdue also confirmed to CNBC that there has been no alteration in Trump’s policy regarding Taiwan, including arms sales.

Source Reference: Trump asked Xi Jinping if China would like to buy US weapons, American ambassador says