Trump Denies Offering Arms Sales to China
President Donald Trump denied claims by U.S. Ambassador David Perdue that he offered to sell American military hardware to Chinese President Xi Jinping.
U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue claimed in a Fox News interview that President Donald Trump offered to sell American military hardware to Chinese leader Xi Jinping during a recent White House visit. Perdue stated that Trump argued the U.S. sells arms globally and asked if Xi would like to purchase some.
President Donald Trump denied the claim, suggesting Perdue may have confused China with Taiwan. However, Trump noted that selling to China might be a "good idea" because U.S. equipment is superior. The U.S. Department of State and other government officials rebuked the claim, stating that U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China and that no such plan exists.
The controversy emerges as the White House has stalled a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan, which Trump previously described as a "negotiating chip" in dealings with Beijing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China responded by stating that China strengthens its national defense capabilities based on its own needs.
