Trump asked Xi Jinping if China would like to buy US weapons
4 hours ago
- Donald Trump offered to sell weapons to China during Xi Jinping's visit, according to US Ambassador David Perdue.
- Trump's offer came amid a long-pending $14bn US arms sales package for Taiwan, which Beijing opposes.
- The White House and State Department denied any plans to sell arms to China, citing legal prohibitions.
- China is a net arms exporter; its imports, mostly from Russia, have dropped 72% recently due to domestic production advances.
- Taiwan officials stressed the severe military threat from China and the need for US defense support.
- China objected to US arms sales to Taiwan, viewing it as a breakaway province, and emphasized opposition to 'Taiwan independence'.