WASHINGTON, United States, May 12, (V7N) – President Donald Trump on Monday said he is ready to discuss US arms sales to Taiwan during his upcoming visit to Beijing, emphasizing that his personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping would help prevent a potential Chinese invasion of the island.

Trump will be accompanied by top US business leaders, including Elon Musk and Apple CEO Tim Cook, on the trip, scheduled from Wednesday through Friday, which is expected to focus heavily on trade. This marks the first visit by a US president to China since Trump’s previous trip in 2017.

When asked about continuing weapons sales to Taiwan—a key point of tension with Beijing—Trump said he would raise the issue with Xi. “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,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. Referencing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he added of Taiwan, “I don’t think it’ll happen. I think we’ll be fine. I have a very good relationship with President Xi. He knows I don’t want that to happen.”

Despite Trump’s personal assurances, the US is legally required to provide Taiwan with defensive weapons under domestic law, and under the 1982 “Six Assurances” the United States agreed not to consult Beijing on arms sales.

Days ahead of Trump’s trip, Taiwan’s parliament approved a $25 billion defense spending bill, prompting a bipartisan group of US senators to urge Trump to green-light a $14 billion arms package to the island. “We urge you and your team to make clear that America’s support for Taiwan is inviolable,” the senators wrote.

Trump also delayed the trip previously due to his ongoing war with Israel against Iran. On Monday, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 12 individuals and entities for facilitating Iranian oil sales to China, even as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent prepared for trade talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Seoul. China remains Iran’s largest oil customer, and Beijing has been criticized for sharing missile technology with Tehran.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stressed the importance of top-level diplomacy and pledged cooperation with the United States “in the spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit” to help stabilize global markets. On Iran, he noted that China would continue to play a “positive role” in promoting a ceasefire and peace talks.

Trump and Xi last met in October 2025 at a regional summit in South Korea, where they agreed to a one-year truce in the trade war, which had seen tariffs on many goods exceed 100 percent.

This visit is expected to combine high-stakes trade discussions with sensitive security issues, including Taiwan, Iran, and broader regional tensions.