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US Ambassador Claims Trump Offered to Sell Arms to China
Confirmed
In Short: Perdue's comments came amid ongoing tensions over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.
U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said during a Fox News interview that President Donald Trump offered to sell weapons to Chinese President Xi Jinping during a recent summit.
Perdue told Fox News, 'President Trump continues to say: Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,' and that 'he actually asked [Chinese] President Xi would he like to buy some at one point.
The White House reiterated that the United States has no plans to sell arms to China, which is prohibited under U.S. law.
Perdue's comments came amid ongoing tensions over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.
During the summit, Trump had described the $14 billion arms sale package to Taiwan as a 'very good negotiating chip.
The Chinese delegation had expressed concern over American arms shipments to Taiwan, prompting Trump to respond that the U.S. sells weapons to nations worldwide.
The incident has caused a stir in diplomatic circles, with some questioning the accuracy of Perdue's statement and the implications for U.S.-China relations.
Perdue had previously told CNBC that there had been no change in policy regarding Taiwan, including arms sales.
What this adds
It is unclear whether Perdue's comments were an attempt to break new ground or if they were an unintentional slip.
The White House's quick denial of Perdue's comments suggests that the administration is trying to maintain a consistent stance on arms sales to China.
What's confirmed
- Trump administration officials said on Monday that the United States has no plans to sell weapons to China after U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue indicated during a televised interview that President Donald Trump offered a weapons deal to China's Xi Jinping during a high-profile summit last week.
- Ambassador David Perdue told Fox News Sunday that “President Trump continues to say: Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,” and that “he actually asked [Chinese] President Xi [Jinping] would he like to buy some at one point.” Donald Trump has been holding up a sale of a US arms package to Taiwan.
What's still developing
- It’s unclear if David Perdue, the U.S. ambassador to China, was trying to break new ground during his latest appearance on Fox News, but intentional or not, the former senator made an unexpected comment that reverberated loudly.
- Perdue rejected the premise, insisting that the incumbent American president “is as strong on Taiwan as I’ve ever seen anybody.” But when asked about the timetable for additional arms shipments to Taiwan, the ambassador went considerably further.
- “I never heard of that one, I’m gonna have to ask him,” Trump said.
- Purdue said Trump’s support for an independent Taiwan should not be questioned, but that he was always in deal-making mode, even when it came to potentially striking selling arms to America’s biggest rival.
- Following Xi boarding his flight back to China, the president celebrated the summit in a Truth Social post, saying it was “one of Friendship, Strength, and Success, for both China and the U.S.A.” Have a tip or story idea?
- Chinese defence companies, with the approval of the Chinese government, are supporting adversaries of the United States, including Iran and Russia, by selling them dual-use equipment and satellite imagery, as well as planning the secret export of weapons, according to US officials.
- The United States has been the dominant military power in the Asia-Pacific region, but that strength is fading relative to China’s, especially as the Trump administration diverts resources from the region for use in its war against Iran.
- Arms sales to China are prohibited under US law, a state department official said denying the reports Arms sales to China are prohibited under US law, a state department official said denying the reports Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later?
- Taiwan had celebrated after the visit ended without any substantial agreement on the self-governed island that China claims as its territory.
- The White House immediately distanced itself from the remarks, telling The New York Times that Washington has no active plans to sell arms to China.
- As reported, the US Ambassador sent shockwaves through Washington and foreign policy circles by revealing an extraordinary diplomatic exchange.
- The extraordinary claim came during an interview about US policy on Taiwan, which has been waiting for months for Trump to approve a new arms sales package worth $14bn, after a record multi-billion-dollar deal was unveiled in December last year.