The Trump administration clarified that it has no plans to sell weapons to China, stating such sales are prohibited by law. This follows comments by U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue, who said President Donald Trump asked Chinese President Xi Jinping if Beijing wanted to buy U.S. arms.

Officials confirmed that no offers or plans have been made to Beijing. The clarification came after Perdue told Fox News Sunday that Trump defended a pending U.S. arms sale to Taiwan by portraying it as one of many global deals. According to Perdue, Trump jokingly asked whether Xi might be interested in purchasing U.S. weapons.

Arms sales and diplomatic context

Perdue did not provide details about the alleged offer or clarify when it was made. He stated that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, with Washington opposing both Taiwanese independence and coercion despite continued Chinese military pressure.

U.S. arms sales have long supported Taiwan’s defense as a deterrent to China. While Washington announced more than $11 billion in potential weapons sales to Taiwan in December, Trump has yet to advance a separate $14 billion security funding package. Four Senate Republicans urged the administration to move the package forward ahead of the summit with Xi Jinping.

Perdue rejected criticism that Trump was not doing enough for Taiwan. He pointed to what he described as a 50% increase in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan compared with any president since 1979. U.S. intelligence agencies’ annual assessment in March found that China does not plan to invade Taiwan in 2027 and has no fixed reunification timeline.

Taiwan urges faster deliveries

Taiwan urged the Trump administration to expedite a delayed weapons package, stating that military strength is essential to deterring potential Chinese aggression. Taiwan representative Alexander Yui stated that Trump and Xi Jinping gave limited public attention to Taiwan during their Washington summit. Yui noted that Taiwan was not mentioned in the statements released by either the U.S. or China after the meeting.

What the numbers show

The data reveals a divergence between legislative prohibitions and rhetorical engagement. While the White House explicitly cites legal bans on arms sales to China, the Ambassador’s account of a "joking" inquiry suggests a complex diplomatic dynamic where defense trade serves as a bargaining chip or conversational topic rather than a policy proposal. Additionally, the contrast between the $11 billion announced sales and the stalled $14 billion package highlights a gap between stated commitments and execution speed, which Taiwan officials are actively pressing to close.

Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) stated that President Donald Trump is "stuck" in the Iran conflict due to a lack of strategic goals, timelines, or an exit plan. Kelly described the war as a "disaster" and a "mistake," emphasizing that the administration entered the conflict without professional negotiation strategies.

Speaking on ABC News’ This Week on Sunday, Kelly argued that the U.S. approach has failed to secure a clear resolution. He criticized the reliance on non-experts for diplomacy, noting that Trump’s son-in-law was attempting to negotiate with contacts from the golf and real estate sectors rather than professionals who understand Iranian dynamics.

Military toll and financial costs

Kelly highlighted the severe human and economic impact of the conflict. He cited more than 20 dead service members and 800 injured as evidence of the war's failure. He rejected claims by Iran that most U.S. bases in the region are unusable but acknowledged that several bases sustained significant damage.

The financial burden continues to mount. Kelly estimated the total cost, including damage to military equipment, munitions expended, and additional operational expenses, to be in excess of $40 billion with no end in sight.

Diplomatic stalemate

Despite the ongoing hostilities, diplomatic channels remain partially open. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Tehran would resist new aggression, while President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed willingness to negotiate on the nuclear program, rejecting what he termed "bullying or coercion."

Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz as part of a negotiated solution. U.S. and Iranian negotiators discussed a phased arrangement linking Hormuz access with lifting U.S. restrictions on Iranian ports. However, talks stalled because neither side was willing to relinquish leverage first. President Trump rejected Iran’s proposal, with a White House official asserting that the U.S. "holds all the cards."

What the numbers show

The divergence between the stated diplomatic posture and the operational reality highlights a strategic gap. While the White House maintains a position of strength, the accumulation of $40 billion in costs alongside 820 combined casualties suggests a high attrition rate without corresponding political leverage gains. The refusal to engage professional negotiators, as noted by Kelly, correlates with the inability to convert military pressure into a structured agreement, leaving the conflict in a costly stalemate.