Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Trump Says He Will Discuss Arms Sales to Taiwan With China's Xi
Reuters logo
By Reuters
Published 2 hours ago on
May 11, 2026

President Donald Trump shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping as they hold a bilateral meeting at Gimhae International Airport, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. (Reuters File)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would discuss the topic of arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week.

“I’m going to have that discussion with President Xi,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about Washington’s longstanding support for Taiwan’s defense. “President Xi would like us not to, and I’ll have that discussion. That’s one of the many things I’ll be talking about.”

China claims the democratically governed island as its own, a contention Taiwan rejects. Washington follows a “one China policy,” acknowledging China’s position but taking no view on Taiwan’s sovereignty. The U.S. is Taiwan’s most important international backer and is bound by law to help with its defense.

The arms transfers are a long source of friction in U.S.-China relations. In December, Trump announced the largest ever U.S. weapons package for the island, more than $11 billion.

In recent days, the Republican president’s aides have urged Taiwan to commit even more money to its defense, and a U.S. official said the Trump-Xi summit signaled no change in policy towards Taiwan.

Speaking to reporters, Trump repeated his doubt that tension over the island would erupt during his presidency.

“I don’t think it’ll happen,” Trump said, without specifying further exactly what he meant. “I think we’ll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows I don’t want that to happen.”

(Reporting by Nandita Bose and Trevor Hunnicutt; editing by Susan Heavey and Michelle Nichols)

RELATED TOPICS:

Search

Keep the news you rely on coming. Support our work today.

Send this to a friend