Trump Asked Xi Jinping If China Wanted to Buy US Weapons, Ambassador Reveals

Trump asked China’s president if he wants to buy US arms, ambassador says The United States’ top diplomat in Beijing, Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns, told reporters on Thursday that former President Donald Trump raised the prospect of a major weapons sale to China during a private meeting with President Xi Jinping last month. According to Burns, the conversation took place at a luncheon in the Great Hall of the People, where Trump allegedly asked Xi whether “the Chinese people would be interested in buying American guns, tanks and aircraft.” The ambassador said the remark was “unusual” but reflected Trump’s long‑standing belief that the United States should profit from any strategic competition..

Burns, who has served as the State Department’s senior official for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said he relayed the anecdote to senior officials in Washington shortly after the dinner. He added that while the comment was recorded by several aides, there is no evidence that a formal request for a weapons package was ever made. “It was a rhetorical question, not a diplomatic proposal,” he told a press briefing, emphasizing that the United States continues to adhere to its long‑standing policy of not exporting lethal weapons to a country that could use them against U.S..

The alleged exchange has ignited a fresh wave of debate in Washington about the appropriateness of selling advanced military hardware to Beijing. Critics of the Trump administration’s “America First” approach argue that any such sale would undermine regional stability and embolden China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Supporters, however, contend that a controlled arms deal could serve as a lever to influence Beijing’s behaviour, drawing on the precedent set by past U.S..

sales to allies and even adversaries during the Cold War. In a statement released by the Pentagon, Deputy ary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said the Department “remains committed to a rigorous review process” for any foreign military sales, especially to nations with which the United States has complex strategic relationships. government “has not received any formal request from the People’s Republic of China for weapons,” and that any such request would be evaluated under the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act..

The statement did not reference Burns’ comments directly, but it underscored the procedural safeguards that would govern any potential transaction. The comment also raised eyebrows within the Pentagon’s own ranks. A senior aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC that senior military officials were “surprised” by the idea of a Trump‑era overture to sell weapons to a rival, noting that the U.S..

has traditionally imposed strict end‑use restrictions on its most sophisticated systems. “If China were to acquire F‑35s or advanced missile technology, it would dramatically alter the balance of power in the Indo‑Pacific,” the aide warned, adding that the Pentagon would need to consider the risk of technology leakage. China’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, issued a brief response that it “takes note” of the ambassador’s remarks but declined to comment on the content of a private conversation..

Spokesperson Hua Chunying reiterated Beijing’s longstanding policy of “self‑reliance” in defence, stating that China “has a robust domestic defence industry capable of meeting its own needs.” The ministry’s response was typical of its measured style, avoiding any direct criticism of the United States while subtly reaffirming the country’s strategic autonomy. Analysts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) argue that the episode underscores a broader shift in U.S. policy towards a more transactional approach to China..

“Trump’s style was always to treat every interaction as a business deal,” said CSIS senior fellow Michael Beckley. “If you look at the broader pattern, this is consistent with his view that even adversaries can be customers, provided they’re willing to pay.” Beckley cautioned that such a mindset could erode the moral high ground the United States has traditionally claimed in arms control debates. The episode also revives memories of the 2014 sale of F‑15 fighter jets to Taiwan, which was condemned by Beijing as a violation of the One‑China policy..

At that time, the United States justified the sale as a “defensive” measure to help preserve regional stability. Observers note that any future sale to mainland China would be even more contentious, given the heightened tensions over Taiwan’s political status and the rapid modernization of the People’s Liberation Army. “The stakes are higher now,” said Professor Liu Yang of Peking University’s School of International Studies..

“A weapons deal could be perceived as an endorsement of Chinese militarism, something the U.S. would be loath to admit.” In Washington, the episode has sparked a flurry of congressional inquiries. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers announced that his subcommittee will schedule a hearing next month to examine the implications of a potential U.S..

The Democratic minority has already signaled opposition, with Representative Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez warning that “selling weapons to a regime that suppresses its own citizens and threatens our allies is a betrayal of American values.” The hearing is expected to draw testimony from senior defense officials, intelligence community members, and arms‑control experts. The broader geopolitical context cannot be ignored. Over the past year, Beijing has accelerated its naval buildup, deploying aircraft carriers to the Pacific and fielding hypersonic missiles that challenge U.S..

At the same time, Washington has ramped up its own presence, sending additional carrier strike groups to the region and increasing joint exercises with Japan, South Korea and Australia..