Trump Asked Xi About Buying US Weapons

Published: 28 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

US President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether China would be interested in buying American weapons during Xi’s recent visit to Washington, according to US Ambassador to China David Perdue. The disclosure has drawn attention because it came at a time when Washington is simultaneously considering a major weapons package for Taiwan, while Beijing continues to oppose US military support for the island.

Perdue made the remarks during a television interview on Sunday while discussing the Trump administration’s approach to China and Taiwan. He said Trump has repeatedly pointed out that the United States sells military equipment to countries around the world and, at one point, asked Xi whether China would like to purchase American weapons.

The ambassador did not provide details about when exactly the question was raised during the Chinese leader’s visit, what type of weapons were discussed or how Xi responded. There was also no indication that the conversation resulted in an actual proposal or negotiations over an arms sale.

The comments were quickly followed by clarification from Washington. A State Department official said US law prohibits arms sales to China and that there was no offer or plan to sell American weapons to Beijing. The White House likewise indicated that there were no plans for such a transaction.

That distinction is significant because the United States has maintained extensive restrictions on military exports to China for decades. Beijing is regarded by Washington as a major strategic competitor, and the two countries remain divided over security, trade, technology, Taiwan and several other geopolitical issues.

The remarks also came against the backdrop of continuing uncertainty over US weapons sales to Taiwan. Taipei has been awaiting approval of a proposed arms package worth about $14bn, while Washington has previously approved other large-scale military sales to the island.

Taiwan has become one of the most sensitive issues in US-China relations. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of China and has repeatedly opposed American arms sales to Taipei. Chinese officials have also urged Washington to oppose moves toward Taiwan independence and have warned against what they describe as foreign interference in China’s internal affairs.

Washington, meanwhile, maintains a longstanding policy under which it does not formally recognize Taiwan as an independent state but maintains extensive unofficial relations with Taipei. US law also provides for the availability of defensive military equipment to Taiwan.

The latest remarks from Perdue therefore created an unusual contrast. While Washington has been weighing further military support for Taiwan, the ambassador publicly described Trump as asking Xi whether China itself would like to purchase US weapons.

Perdue’s comments did not establish that Trump intended to initiate a weapons programme for China. Instead, they described a question raised during the broader conversation between the two leaders. The subsequent statements from the State Department made clear that there is no current US plan to sell arms to Beijing.

The timing of the disclosure has nevertheless attracted attention across the region. Xi’s visit to Washington came during an important period in US-China relations, with both governments seeking to manage differences while also addressing areas of economic and strategic competition.

Trump and Xi have held discussions on a range of bilateral matters, and Taiwan remains an important issue in the relationship. Chinese officials have consistently argued that US military sales to Taiwan undermine China’s sovereignty claims and contribute to tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

During the recent visit, Xi pressed Washington to oppose what Beijing describes as Taiwan independence. Chinese state media reported that the issue was raised during the leaders’ discussions. Trump later said that the two leaders did not spend a large amount of time discussing Taiwan and indicated that Xi understood his position.

Taiwanese officials, however, have continued to emphasize the security challenges facing the island. Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi said Taiwan faces a serious situation in the Taiwan Strait and argued that China’s continued investment in military capabilities remains a major concern for Taipei.

Chen also said Taiwan believed Washington understood its defence requirements. Taiwanese officials have separately maintained that US policy toward the island has not changed following the Trump-Xi meeting.

The issue of arms sales has been particularly sensitive because Trump previously described the proposed Taiwan package as a useful negotiating tool in discussions with China. The delay in approving the package had raised questions about how the administration intended to balance its relationship with Beijing with its longstanding security commitments to Taipei.

Perdue himself said before his latest comments that there had been no change in Trump’s Taiwan policy, including regarding arms sales. That statement is consistent with the broader US position that its policy toward Taiwan has not been fundamentally altered by the latest meeting between Trump and Xi.

The episode also highlights the unusual nature of diplomatic discussions between Washington and Beijing. Statements made by senior officials can carry significant weight because military sales are closely connected to strategic calculations, national security and regional stability.

For Beijing, American weapons sales to Taiwan are a longstanding source of friction. For Taipei, access to US defence equipment is considered an important part of maintaining its ability to respond to security threats. For Washington, decisions on military exports involve legal requirements, strategic considerations and the wider management of relations with both China and Taiwan.

Against that background, Perdue’s account of Trump’s question to Xi is likely to remain a subject of interest even though US officials have explicitly stated that there is no plan to sell American weapons to China.

The disclosure also illustrates how a single remark can generate questions about the direction of US policy, particularly when it involves the world’s two largest powers and the most sensitive security issue in their relationship. At present, however, the official position from Washington is that no arms sale to China is being planned.

Trump has not publicly elaborated on the reported exchange with Xi. Nor has the Chinese government publicly indicated that Beijing sought to purchase American military equipment following the conversation.

For Taiwan, the immediate question remains whether Washington will proceed with the proposed arms package and how future US decisions will affect the island’s defence planning. For China, opposition to American military support for Taiwan remains a central element of its position on cross-strait relations.

The latest episode therefore sits within a much broader and continuing debate over US-China relations, Taiwan’s security and the role of American military support in the Asia-Pacific. While Perdue’s remarks provided an unusual glimpse into the leaders’ conversation, subsequent US government statements have drawn a clear line between Trump’s reported question and any actual policy to sell weapons to China.

As Washington and Beijing continue managing their strategic relationship, developments involving Taiwan are likely to remain closely watched across the region. The reported exchange between Trump and Xi has added another unexpected element to that complicated diplomatic landscape, but official US statements indicate that no American arms sale to China is currently under consideration.