US Ambassador Says Trump Offered Arms to China During Xi Summit, Prompting Official Denials

Key points

• US Ambassador David Perdue told Fox News that President Trump asked Xi Jinping if China wanted to buy US arms during their September 25 meeting in Washington.
• The White House and State Department denied the claim, stating that US law prohibits arms sales to China and no such offer or plan exists.
• The comments occurred while Taiwan awaits approval of a $14 billion arms package that Trump previously described as a 'negotiating chip' in May.
• In December 2025, Washington approved an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which Perdue called the largest since 1979.
• Xi Jinping urged Trump to show 'prudence' regarding Taiwan and explicitly oppose 'Taiwan independence' during the summit.

Background

This development follows Xi Jinping's three-day state visit to the US, which included a rare planeside welcome from Trump. Earlier coverage noted that Beijing set four 'red lines' for the visit, focusing on sovereignty and human rights, while US analysts cautioned that concrete policy deliverables remained unclear amid ongoing trade and security tensions. The current dispute over arms sales adds to existing friction, as China has long opposed US arms sales to Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory.

How outlets are covering it

Euronews and The Guardian both report Perdue's statement that Trump offered arms to China, but The Guardian emphasizes the immediate denial from the White House and State Department, noting that US law prohibits such sales. Euronews highlights the broader context of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act and the delayed $14 billion arms package for Taiwan. Yahoo's source appears to be a technical error page and provides no substantive news content. All outlets agree that Perdue's comments sparked significant controversy, but they differ in emphasis: The Guardian focuses on the official denial and legal constraints, while Euronews frames the issue within the ongoing US-China dispute over Taiwan's defense.

Why it matters

The incident underscores the fragility of US-China relations and the sensitivity of arms sales to Taiwan. It raises questions about the consistency of US policy and the potential for diplomatic missteps to escalate tensions. The delayed arms package for Taiwan, valued at $14 billion, remains a critical issue for Taipei's defense and a point of contention between Washington and Beijing.

What to watch

The White House and State Department will likely continue to deny any plans to sell arms to China, while the US Congress may scrutinize the delayed $14 billion arms package for Taiwan. Beijing may use the incident to further criticize US policy on Taiwan, potentially leading to increased diplomatic friction. The outcome of the arms package approval will be a key indicator of US commitment to Taiwan's defense.