President Trump offered to sell weapons to China during a meeting with Xi Jinping. U.S. Ambassador David Perdue confirmed the proposal. The offer marked a major shift in longstanding U.S. policy.
The White House later stated that no arms sale to China is planned. Officials did not explain the contradiction. The comment followed Perdue’s public remarks.
Perdue said Trump made the offer directly to China’s leader. Details of the proposed weapons remain undisclosed. It is unclear when or where the offer occurred.
China’s government has not publicly responded to the claim. Beijing has long sought to modernize its military. U.S. law normally restricts arms sales to China.
The White House maintains that current policy remains unchanged. No formal proposal has been sent to Congress. Any such sale would require congressional approval.
Military experts call the reported offer highly unusual. The U.S. has not sold arms to China in decades. Tensions over Taiwan and trade already strain relations.
Perdue’s statement raised questions about diplomatic coordination. The ambassador did not say whether China accepted the offer. The White House declined further comment.
The episode highlights conflicting messages from the administration. It also underscores uncertainty in U.S.-China relations. No further details have been released.
