Perdue Says Trump Asked Xi About Buying U.S. Weapons

U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue said President Donald Trump asked Chinese leader Xi Jinping whether China wanted to buy American weapons, but Perdue did not say when the exchange occurred or whether Trump was serious. The account came as the administration’s proposed arms package for Taiwan remained unsigned, with no signing date given. Perdue described Trump as pointing out that the United States sells weapons to countries around the world before asking Xi at one point whether he would like to buy some. The ambassador did not establish whether the question was raised during the leaders’ recent meetings or on another occasion. The available accounts of the remark all stem from Perdue’s interview, and no separate confirmation of the conversation was provided. The comment emerged amid questions about U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. Perdue said a package worth about $14 billion was awaiting Trump’s signature and that its timing was unknown because the president had his own schedule. The sources describe the package as unsigned; they do not establish whether it will ultimately proceed or when a decision will be made. Perdue said U.S.