U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday (May 11) he would discuss the topic of arms sales to Taiwan and the case of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week.

"I'm going to have that discussion with President Xi," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked about Washington's longstanding support for Taiwan's defense.

"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."

China claims the democratically governed island as its own, a contention Taiwan rejects. Washington follows a "one China policy," acknowledging China's position but taking no view on Taiwan's sovereignty. The U.S. is Taiwan's most important international backer and is bound by law to help with its defense.

The arms transfers have long been a source of friction in U.S.-China relations. In December, Trump announced the largest-ever U.S. weapons package for the island, more than US$11 billion.