Story perspectives

White House Denies Trump Asked China to Buy Weapons

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 10:33 AM UTC · How we work

Left

U.S. denies weapons sales

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping if China wanted to purchase American weapons, ambassador David Perdue reported.
Taiwanese deputy foreign minister Chen Ming-chi warned that China’s expanding military poses a severe threat to Taiwan’s security.
White House told New York Times there are no plans to sell weapons to China.
State Department said U.S. law bans arms sales to China and confirmed no offer existed.

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Trump personal dealmaking

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping Sept. 27, 2026 if China wanted to buy American weapons.
Coverage frames the question as Trump’s personal deal-making, not as evidence of a policy shift.
Trump approved an $11 billion Taiwan weapons package and held a $14 billion sale as negotiating chip.
Senators led by Mitch McConnell sent a May letter urging release of approved Taiwan aid.

History

Historical Context

Enacted on April 10, 1979, the Taiwan Relations Act let the United States keep supplying defensive weapons to Taiwan, a practice that continued with the $1.83 billion 2015 sale, the $1.4 billion 2017 approval, and an $11 billion package in 2026. That legal foundation shapes President Donald Trump’s 2026 request to Xi Jinping about U.S. arms, even as the State Department blocks further sales.

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U.S. denies weapons sales

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping if China wanted to purchase American weapons, ambassador David Perdue reported.
Taiwanese deputy foreign minister Chen Ming-chi warned that China’s expanding military poses a severe threat to Taiwan’s security.
White House told New York Times there are no plans to sell weapons to China.
State Department said U.S. law bans arms sales to China and confirmed no offer existed.

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