Beijing: Trump’s alleged arms offer to China raises questions

BEIJING, September 28 — China declined to comment today on a statement by the U.S. ambassador to China, David Perdue, according to whom President Donald Trump had asked Chinese President Xi Jinping whether Beijing would be interested in buying weapons from the United States.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China is strengthening its defense capacities based on its own needs.

He also emphasized that Beijing is committed to preserving peace and stability in the world.

His statement came after Ambassador Perdue said in an interview with Fox News that President Trump had made it clear to Xi that the United States sells weapons to countries all over the world.

“At one point, he asked President Xi whether he would like to buy some,” Perdue said, answering a question about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

U.S. military support for Taiwan has long been a source of tension with Beijing.

China considers the self-governed island part of its territory and has threatened to take it under control by force if necessary.

Perdue did not clarify when President Trump allegedly asked this question, nor how Xi Jinping reacted.

After the interview aired, U.S. government officials told the Wall Street Journal that Washington had no plans to sell arms to China.

One of the sources said such a deal would be legally impossible.

The U.S. officials also did not clarify whether the alleged question was asked during Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington last week or during earlier talks.

A U.S. arms sale to Beijing could also cause concern among U.S. allies, especially in East Asia, where several countries facing pressure from China receive military support from Washington.

Taiwan is the most significant example.

Perdue also reiterated Washington’s position on the Taiwan issue; the U.S. does not support Taiwan’s independence, but neither the use of force or coercion against it.