Trump asked Xi Jinping if China would like to buy US weapons, American ambassador says
David Perdue’s remarks come after a Taiwanese minister spoke of the ‘severe’ military threat posed by Beijing to the self-ruled island
TL;DR
- US Ambassador to China David Perdue claimed Donald Trump offered to sell weapons to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
- This offer was reportedly made during Xi's visit to the US last week.
- The claim comes as Taiwan awaits a $14bn arms sales package from the US.
- Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory, strongly opposes US arms sales to the island.
- The White House and State Department have denied that any offer or plan to sell arms to China exists.
- US law prohibits arms sales to China.