Trump asked Xi if China wanted to buy US weapons, envoy says

US President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping if China wanted to buy US weapons at their latest meetings, the US Ambassador to China David Perdue said, as Washington sought to downplay concerns over a looming arms package for Taiwan.

“President Trump continues to say, hey, we sell arms to other people around the world. He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some at one point,” Perdue told Fox News on Sunday.

Perdue did not say when Trump made the remark or disclose Xi’s response. He was talking about policy toward Taiwan, which is awaiting a proposed arms package worth $14.0 billion.

“Trump is committed to Taiwan and has continued to have discussions with Xi about the future of US arms sales to the island. Trump has called sales of weapons to Taiwan a “very good negotiating chip” with Beijing in the past.

Trump also played down tensions over Taiwan, saying the issue was not a major topic in his latest discussions with Xi.

China denounces US arms sales to Taiwan and has repeatedly called on Washington to stop arms sales to the island. The United States does not formally recognise Taiwan but is legally required to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

The White House said it had no plans to sell weapons to China and the State Department said US law prohibits such sales.