US denied China arms-sale plans after ambassador described Trump overture
Original report:
US ambassador David Perdue said Donald Trump had asked Xi Jinping about buying American weapons. The Guardian’s September 2026 report also detailed US officials’ denials of any sale plans, amid a pending $14bn weapons package for Taiwan.
Donald Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China wanted to buy US weapons during a Washington visit, US ambassador David Perdue said, according to the Guardian’s report published on 28 September 2026. Perdue described the exchange in a Fox News interview about American policy towards Taiwan.
The White House subsequently said there were no plans for such sales. The state department said US law barred arms sales to China and denied any offer or plan. Taiwan was meanwhile awaiting approval of a $14bn arms package. The report said Trump had held that package back as leverage in negotiations with Beijing, while Perdue maintained that US Taiwan policy had not changed.
The dispute touched on Washington’s competing dealings with Beijing and Taipei. The report explained that the Taiwan Relations Act requires the US to supply equipment sufficient for Taiwan’s self-defence, while Washington leaves its response to an invasion ambiguous. Beijing opposes those sales and has not ruled out taking Taiwan by force.
Source
the Guardian — 28 September 2026
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