Perdue

US Ambassador David Perdue says President Trump asked Xi Jinping whether China would be interested in buying American weapons. The remarks come after a Taiwanese minister described the 'severe' military threat posed by Beijing to the self-ruled island, raising questions about US arms policy toward Taiwan and the wider strategic relationship with China.

Donald Trump addressed former senator David Perdue's reported comment that Trump offered Xi Jinping arms sales, saying Perdue 'was probably talking about Taiwan.' The remark touched on the sensitive question of US arms policy toward Taiwan and dealings with China, drawing attention as voters and commentators weighed the implications of the statement for future US-China relations.

The U.S. government has stated it has no plans to sell weapons to China, walking back comments attributed to Perdue that had raised questions about American arms policy toward Beijing. The clarification came quickly, underscoring the sensitivity of U.S.-China relations and the close attention any remarks about military cooperation with China receive in Washington and abroad.