US President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping if China wants to buy arms from the US. US Ambassador to China David Perdue gave this information. However, Perdue did not say when Trump asked the question. Purdue’s statement comes at a time when the US is preparing to sell arms to Taiwan. China has long opposed this. China considers Taiwan as its own and is even talking about using force if necessary.

Perdue said that Trump explained to Xi Jinping about the decision to sell American weapons to Taiwan, saying that the United States sells weapons to many countries around the world. Meanwhile, Trump asked Xi Jinping if he also wanted to buy American weapons. If China does indeed buy American weapons, it would be a major shift in America’s decades-old Sino-Taiwan policy. This could also raise concerns about American military technology reaching China.

American lawmakers raised questions

Here, American lawmakers have questioned delays in arms deliveries and arms orders to Taiwan. He says whether the US is delaying arming Taiwan to please the Chinese president. Purdue denied this. He said Trump is taking a very tough stance on the Taiwan issue and the US has sold many weapons to Taiwan. He also said that Trump and Xi would continue to discuss US arms sales to Taiwan in the future.

Under US law, the US must provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. The US does not recognize Taiwan as a separate country, but it is its largest unofficial supporter and arms supplier. However, it is not yet clear whether the US will provide direct military assistance in the event of a Chinese attack.

The US stopped arms sales to Taiwan

During the Trump-Jinping meeting in May, China also demanded that the US stop arms sales to Taiwan. After that meeting, the US halted the sale of a record $14 billion arms package. Trump called it a means of getting a very good deal in talks with China. The issue of Taiwan also came up in the meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping at the White House last week. According to Chinese state media, Xi Jinping asked Trump to oppose Taiwan independence.