Trump asked Xi if China would buy US weapons, ambassador says

The claim emerged during an interview discussing US policy on Taiwan, which has been awaiting Trump's approval for a $14 billion arms sales package. Trump had previously described the package as a "very good negotiating chip" in dealings with China.

Following Perdue's interview, the White House informed The New York Times that the US has no plans to sell arms to China. The State Department reiterated that US law prohibits such sales and confirmed there is no offer or plan in place.

Meanwhile, Taiwan's deputy foreign minister, Chen Ming-chi, highlighted the severe military threat posed by China, noting that despite economic challenges, China continues to increase its military investment. He stated that the US understands Taiwan's defense needs in this context.

Trump has not publicly commented on the potential sale since the summit, only stating on Saturday that Xi understands his position on Taiwan. David Perdue himself had told CNBC on Friday that there had been no change in Trump's Taiwan policy, including on arms sales.