Could the US sell weapons to its biggest rival China
The United States cannot legally sell weapons to China because a strict federal arms embargo has banned military exports to Beijing since 1989. This clear legal barrier became the focus of intense public debate in September 2026 after U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue claimed in a television interview that President Donald Trump had casually asked Chinese President Xi Jinping during a summit if China wanted to purchase American arms. This claim prompted swift clarifications and denials from the U.S. Department of State and administration officials.
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The skinny
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