US President Donald Trump suggested that China could buy American weapons itself as he sought to play down Beijing’s concerns over US arms sales to Taiwan, according to the US ambassador to China.
Ambassador David Perdue, speaking to Fox News on Sunday, said Trump had raised the idea directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping, although he did not specify when the exchange took place.
“President Trump continues to say: ‘Well, okay, we sell weapons to other countries, all over the world,’” Perdue said, adding that Trump had at one point asked Xi whether China would like to buy US weapons.
Further Taiwan arms sales under discussion
Perdue said discussions were continuing over additional US arms sales to Taiwan, adding that Trump and Xi raise the issue whenever they meet.
He stressed that Washington’s position on Taiwan had not changed.
China in June warned Taiwan against pursuing “independence backed by the United States or through the use of military force”.
Washington approved $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan in December.
Perdue said Trump and his administration had sold “more weapons to Taiwan than any other president since 1979”.
Arms sales remain source of US-China tension
US arms sales to Taiwan remain a persistent source of tension between Washington and Beijing.
Under US law, Washington is required to provide Taiwan, which has a democratically elected president and parliament, with the means to defend itself, while stopping short of publicly supporting Taiwanese independence.
China considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory and has pledged to bring the island under its control, while never ruling out the use of force.
Beijing has increased diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan in recent years.
Source: ANA-MPA
