Trump Offered to Sell Arms to China, U.S. Ambassador Says, tell me about this news in (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/us/politics/trump-weapons-sale-china.html)

This reporting concerns statements made by the U.S. Ambassador to China, David Perdue, regarding discussions between Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping during Xi’s summit visit to the United States in late September 2026.

Key points reported on this development:

1. The Proposal to Xi Jinping: During an interview on Fox News Sunday, Ambassador Perdue revealed that Donald Trump raised the prospect of selling American weaponry directly to China. Perdue recounted that Trump remarked on selling arms globally and asked President Xi at one point if China would be interested in purchasing American weapons.

2. Context and Taiwan Policy: Perdue made the disclosure while defending the administration’s broader posture toward Taiwan. He emphasized that the U.S. continues to adhere to the Taiwan Relations Act, the Six Assurances, and the One-China policy, arguing that Trump has approved substantial defense aid and equipment for Taiwan while always operating in an aggressive “deal-making” mode.

3. Legal and Geopolitical Obstacles: Any actual arms sale from the United States to China faces severe legal barriers under U.S. law, primarily the long-standing defense export restrictions and arms embargo in effect since 1989 following the Tiananmen Square crackdown. In addition, the remarks drew attention amid wider tensions regarding technology competition, trade, and scrutiny over China’s interactions with Iran.