Trump Asked China If It Wanted US Weapons
President Trump offered to sell American weapons to China's leader Xi Jinping. He asked if China wanted to buy them.
David Perdue is the US ambassador to China. He said Trump made the offer.
Perdue said Trump asked this at one point. He did not say when.
The White House later responded. It said the US has no plans to sell arms to China.
The statement addressed Trump's earlier offer. The administration also denied delaying a $14 billion arms package to Taiwan.
It said the delay was not meant to please Beijing. Perdue said US policy toward Taiwan has not changed.
The arms package had been delayed for months. Trump earlier called it a negotiating chip.
Perdue said the US already approved $11 billion in Taiwan arms sales. Talks continue about additional arms sales to Taiwan.
Key Terms 4
- Xi Jinping China's top leader.
- David Perdue The US ambassador to China.
- Beijing China's capital, often used to mean China's government.
- negotiating chip Something used to gain advantage in talks.