China threatens to cancel Trump's visit to Beijing over Taiwan

Beijing has threatened to cancel US President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to Beijing unless Washington refuses to sell a large shipment of arms to Taiwan. The Financial Times newspaper reported this on Friday, February 6, citing informed interlocutors. Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the issue of weapons for Taiwan in a telephone conversation with the head of the White House on February 4. Xi called on Washington to “exercise caution,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. At the same time, two US officials believe that Beijing is bluffing and has no intention of canceling Trump's state visit, scheduled for April. The United States is preparing a major arms package for Taiwan, which Beijing considers its breakaway province. According to FT, the package will include Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, NASAMS air defense systems and two more unnamed weapons systems. Some of the publication's interlocutors estimate it at $20 billion (16.9 billion euros).