Perdue Says Trump Offered China U.S. Arms as $14 Billion Taiwan Package Remains Frozen
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 27
Perdue Says Trump Offered China U.S. Arms as $14 Billion Taiwan Package Remains Frozen
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 27
Summary
David Perdue said on Fox News Sunday that Trump directly asked Xi Jinping during last week’s Washington visit whether China wanted to buy American weapons.
The disclosure jarred because U.S. law bars arms sales to China; the White House and State Department quickly said there is no offer or plan to sell Beijing weapons.
The remark surfaced as Trump continues to withhold a $14 billion Taiwan arms package, despite bipartisan pressure from senators and a separate push to release $300 million in aid and $1 billion for Taiwan security programs.
Perdue defended Trump by citing $11 billion in Taiwan arms sales approved last year, but he also said Trump and Xi discuss Taiwan-related sales whenever they meet.
Analysts say the episode will unsettle U.S. partners including Taiwan, Japan and the Philippines, and suggests Trump may avoid new Taiwan arms approvals before planned Xi meetings in November and December.
Could floating a legally prohibited arms sale to Beijing be a calculated psychological tactic to reshape the entire Asia-Pacific security dynamic?
As gray-zone coercion replaces traditional military drills, how will delayed defense packages alter the fragile balance of power across the Taiwan Strait?