Trump downplays arms sales to Taiwan in talks with Xi
President Donald Trump has justified the pending U.S. arms sale to Taiwan to Chinese President Xi Jinping by downplaying it as just one of many sales Washington makes around the world — even asking Xi if he’d be in the market for U.S. arms, reports BritPanorama.
David Perdue, Trump’s ambassador to China, stated that Trump raised the prospect of the arms sales to its geopolitical rival, an unlikely offer that, if realized, could alter generations of U.S. policy toward China and Taiwan, potentially exposing U.S. technology to a potential adversary.
Speaking to Shannon Bream on “Fox News Sunday” shortly after Trump hosted Xi for a state visit, Perdue did not specify when the offer was made.
Bream noted concerns from lawmakers regarding delayed aid packages and weapons orders to Taiwan, which seeks to defend itself against China’s threat of invasion. She questioned whether the U.S. was denying Taiwan support to placate the Chinese president, who had recently met with Trump.
Perdue countered this suggestion, asserting that Trump “is as strong on Taiwan as I’ve ever seen anybody” and has provided significant arms to the island. He also mentioned ongoing discussions between Trump and Xi about future U.S. weapons sales to Taiwan.
“But President Trump continues to say, ‘Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,’” Perdue said. “He actually asked President Xi, would he like to buy some, at one point.”
The U.S. is bound by its own laws to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. While it does not formally recognize Taiwan as a country, the U.S. remains the island’s strongest informal backer and principal arms provider. However, there has been ambiguity among multiple U.S. leaders regarding their commitment to military intervention to defend Taiwan should conflict arise with China.
China has urged Washington to cease arms sales, particularly highlighted during a prior summit in May between Trump and Xi in Beijing. Following that meeting, the U.S. delayed a record-breaking $14 billion arms package, with Trump characterizing such sales to Taiwan as a “very good negotiating chip” with China.
In their private discussions at the White House last week, Xi pressed Trump to oppose Taiwan independence, according to Chinese state media.
