President Trump raised the possibility of Beijing purchasing weapons from the United States during a phone call with President Xi Jinping, according to remarks made by David Perdue, the ambassador to China, on a televised programme on 27 September. The comments arose during a conversation about Trump's stance on arms transfers to Taiwan and the broader state of relations between Washington and Beijing.
In an interview with a television news outlet, Perdue indicated that Trump frequently points to weapon exports from the country as a matter of established practice. He noted that Trump went further during the conversation with Xi, drawing attention on multiple occasions to the fact that arms are supplied by the United States to countries around the world. Perdue noted that he had even inquired of President Xi whether the latter would be interested in purchasing some.
No details were provided about the timing of Trump's remark or how Xi reacted, according to Perdue. No additional details were offered by Perdue, leaving open the question of whether Xi replied or whether the comment prompted any exchange.
Both the White House and the State Department subsequently confirmed that no arrangement or proposal to transfer American arms to China exists. U.S. law prohibits weapons transfers to China, and both the State Department and the White House have stated that no plan or intention to arm Beijing was under consideration.
The remarks arose during a broader discussion of American arms transfers to Taiwan, an issue that has long strained relations between the two nations. A proposed defence package from the United States, valued at approximately $14 billion, remains under consideration for delivery to Taiwan. Delivery of the aid package remains on hold as Trump and Xi continue negotiations over arms transfers to the island.
Perdue has indicated that the administration's stance on Taiwan remains unchanged. The two officials were reported to be in ongoing talks regarding potential arms transfers to Taiwan. China has consistently called on the United States to halt weapons transfers to Taiwan, a policy stance it formally rejects.
According to state media in Beijing, Xi conveyed to Trump a call for opposition to any move toward Taiwanese independence during their meeting in Washington. Beijing has not made public whether Xi was questioned about purchasing weapons from the United States, nor has it released any details of how he may have responded.
The exchange has drawn scrutiny given that the two nations are geopolitical competitors, with the United States continuing to back Taiwan's capacity for self-defence. Publicly accessible records provide no indication that any weapons agreement between the two nations is under discussion. The State Department has stated that no agreement or intention to transfer arms to China exists.
Perdue's remarks confirm that Trump raised the topic in his discussion with Xi, yet they fall short of demonstrating that any official sales proposal was put forward by the United States. Perdue additionally noted that the bilateral relationship between China and Iran was brought up by Trump in his conversations with Xi. The envoy reported that Xi indicated adjustments had been implemented and that the government had reassessed its position.
The dispute over arms transfers unfolded against a broader context of ongoing tensions between the two nations. While Taiwan stands out as a particularly delicate point of contention, the two nations are also navigating disagreements over trade, technology, and ties between China and countries including Iran. Both leaders have maintained bilateral dialogue to navigate areas of divergence between their respective governments.
Perdue's remarks shed light on the range of topics discussed between the two leaders, though they stop short of establishing that the reported weapons question led to any shift in Washington's stance toward Beijing. The statement comes amid ongoing U.S. limits on defence collaboration with China, even as military ties with Taiwan remain in place.
