Trump Offered to Sell Arms to China, U.S. Ambassador Says
New York Times
N
New York Times
Original Source
U.S. Ambassador David Perdue revealed that President Trump offered China's leader Xi Jinping the option to purchase American weapons, an extraordinary move in relations between the two superpowers. The White House and State Department quickly clarified that U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China and no such sale is planned.
Trump Offered to Sell Arms to China, U.S. Ambassador Says - The New York Times
Skip to contentSkip to site index
Politics
Today’s Paper
Trump-Xi Summit
* Simmering Divisions
* Artificial Intelligence
* Trade Truce Extended
* State Dinner
* China’s Domestic Priorities
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Supported by
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Trump Offered to Sell Arms to China, U.S. Ambassador Says
President Trump made the offer to Xi Jinping, China’s leader, said David Perdue, the ambassador to China. The White House later said the U.S. had no plans for such a sale.
Listen · 7:35 min
*
*
*
!President Xi Jinping of China, wearing a blue suit and maroon tie, stands outside next to President Trump, who is wearing a dark overcoat.
*President Xi Jinping of China arriving for a state visit last week. China has the world’s fastest-growing military.Credit...Kenny Holston/The New York Times*
By Edward Wong
Edward Wong covers U.S.-China relations as a diplomatic correspondent in Washington and wrote a book on China after serving as Beijing bureau chief.
Sept. 27, 2026Updated 7:33 p.m. ET
See more of our coverage in your search results.Encuentra más de nuestra cobertura en los resultados de búsqueda. Add The New York Times on GoogleAgrega The New York Times en Google
President Trump has asked Xi Jinping, the leader of China, whether he would like to buy American weapons, David Perdue, the American ambassador to China, said in a television interview on Sunday.
“President Trump continues to say, ‘Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,’” Mr. Perdue said on “Fox News Sunday” while discussing the state visit by Mr. Xi to Washington last week. “He actually asked President Xi would he like to buy some at one point.”
Mr. Perdue did not give further details and did not reveal Mr. Xi’s reply.
An admission that the American president offered to sell arms to China is extraordinary. The Communist-ruled nation is considered by most American policymakers and legislators of both parties to be the greatest military, economic and diplomatic rival of the United States — the only real challenger to America as a superpower.
When asked for comment, the White House said through a U.S. official that the United States had no plans to sell arms to China. The State Department said in a statement that “U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no offer or plan to sell arms to China.”
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China has the world’s fastest-growing military, and for decades U.S. officials across administrations, including in the current one, have warned of a potential military clash between the two nuclear-armed powers in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly over the island of Taiwan or China’s aggressive actions in territory claimed by U.S. allies in the South and East China Seas.
Chinese defense companies, with the approval of the Chinese government, are supporting adversaries of the United States, including Iran and Russia, by selling them dual-use equipment and satellite imagery, as well as planning the secret export of weapons, according to U.S. officials. The United States has imposed sanctions on some Chinese companies.
---
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
---
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Related Content
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Site Index
Site Information Navigation
* © 2026 The New York Times Company
* NYTCo
* Contact Us
* Accessibility
* Work with us
* Advertise
* T Brand Studio
* Privacy Policy
* Cookie Policy
* Terms of Service
* Terms of Sale
* Site Map
* Canada
* International
* Help
* Subscriptions
* Manage Privacy Preferences
Skip to contentSkip to site index
Politics
Today’s Paper
Trump-Xi Summit
* Simmering Divisions
* Artificial Intelligence
* Trade Truce Extended
* State Dinner
* China’s Domestic Priorities
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Supported by
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Trump Offered to Sell Arms to China, U.S. Ambassador Says
President Trump made the offer to Xi Jinping, China’s leader, said David Perdue, the ambassador to China. The White House later said the U.S. had no plans for such a sale.
Listen · 7:35 min
*
*
*
!President Xi Jinping of China, wearing a blue suit and maroon tie, stands outside next to President Trump, who is wearing a dark overcoat.
*President Xi Jinping of China arriving for a state visit last week. China has the world’s fastest-growing military.Credit...Kenny Holston/The New York Times*
By Edward Wong
Edward Wong covers U.S.-China relations as a diplomatic correspondent in Washington and wrote a book on China after serving as Beijing bureau chief.
Sept. 27, 2026Updated 7:33 p.m. ET
See more of our coverage in your search results.Encuentra más de nuestra cobertura en los resultados de búsqueda. Add The New York Times on GoogleAgrega The New York Times en Google
President Trump has asked Xi Jinping, the leader of China, whether he would like to buy American weapons, David Perdue, the American ambassador to China, said in a television interview on Sunday.
“President Trump continues to say, ‘Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,’” Mr. Perdue said on “Fox News Sunday” while discussing the state visit by Mr. Xi to Washington last week. “He actually asked President Xi would he like to buy some at one point.”
Mr. Perdue did not give further details and did not reveal Mr. Xi’s reply.
An admission that the American president offered to sell arms to China is extraordinary. The Communist-ruled nation is considered by most American policymakers and legislators of both parties to be the greatest military, economic and diplomatic rival of the United States — the only real challenger to America as a superpower.
When asked for comment, the White House said through a U.S. official that the United States had no plans to sell arms to China. The State Department said in a statement that “U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no offer or plan to sell arms to China.”
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China has the world’s fastest-growing military, and for decades U.S. officials across administrations, including in the current one, have warned of a potential military clash between the two nuclear-armed powers in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly over the island of Taiwan or China’s aggressive actions in territory claimed by U.S. allies in the South and East China Seas.
Chinese defense companies, with the approval of the Chinese government, are supporting adversaries of the United States, including Iran and Russia, by selling them dual-use equipment and satellite imagery, as well as planning the secret export of weapons, according to U.S. officials. The United States has imposed sanctions on some Chinese companies.
---
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
---
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Related Content
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Advertisement
SKIP ADVERTISEMENT
Site Index
Site Information Navigation
* © 2026 The New York Times Company
* NYTCo
* Contact Us
* Accessibility
* Work with us
* Advertise
* T Brand Studio
* Privacy Policy
* Cookie Policy
* Terms of Service
* Terms of Sale
* Site Map
* Canada
* International
* Help
* Subscriptions
* Manage Privacy Preferences
🔗 Share Article
Tags:#السياسة الخارجية الأمريكية#العلاقات الأمريكية الصينية#الأسلحة والدفاع#ترامب#شي جين بينج#آسيا والمحيط الهادئ
Source: New York Times
For Context
Related reads from the same topic or latest developments
