Contradiction in Washington: U.S. Ambassador to China Says Trump Offered Xi Weapons, but White House Insists There Are No Plans to Sell

The U.S. ambassador to China, David Perdue, stated on Sunday that President Donald Trump asked his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, if he was interested in purchasing U.S. weapons.

The statement caused an immediate stir on social media, but the White House and the Department of State quickly clarified that there are no plans to sell weapons to Beijing.

Perdue, during an interview with Fox News, spoke aboutstate visit Xi made to Washington and noted that Trump often repeats that the United States sells weapons to other countries around the world. Then came the alleged offer, according to the ambassador's account: "He actually asked President Xi would he like to buy some at one point." Perdue did not provide further details or reveal how the Chinese leader responded to the U.S. president's question.

When asked by The New York Times, the White House said, through an official, that the United States does not plan to sell weapons to China, its main global economic rival. The State Department also echoed that stance: "U.S. law prohibits arms sales to China and there is no offer or plan to sell arms to China." Neither statement clarifies whether Trump asked Xi Jinping that question during any meeting. The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond.

Despite the clarification, the suggestion is unusual in and of itself. Lawmakers and officials from both parties view China as the country's primary military, economic, and diplomatic rival. Furthermore, according to U.S. officials, Chinese defense companies, with their government's backing, sell dual-use equipment and satellite imagery to Iran and Russia. Therefore, selling U.S. weapons to China would be an absolutely surprising move that would likely generate significant criticism on strategic and national security grounds, in addition to putting neighboring Asian allies or those close to China in a difficult position.