A claim from Taichung's mayor that Washington plans to sell weapons to China was quickly contradicted, making this a political fight over credibility rather than a real shift in U.S. policy.

• Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen told reporters Trump wants to sell weapons to Xi Jinping and warned the Lai government to pay attention.
• Trump denied hearing anything about it, and the State Department said there is no plan to sell weapons to China.
• U.S. law bars arms sales to China, which undercuts the claim outright.
• DPP city councilor Lin De-yu accused Lu of pushing national security talk to distract from falling poll numbers.
• Lu's term ends December 24, and critics say her job now is handing off city business, not foreign policy.

Outlook: Expect the dispute to stay a domestic political skirmish in Taiwan, with pressure on Lu to explain where the claim came from.