Flags of Taiwan and U.S. are placed for a meeting between U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce speaks and with Su Chia-chyuan, President of the Legislative Yuan in Taipei, Taiwan March 27, 2018. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo
TAIPEI (Reuters) - A senior U.S. diplomat who helps manage ties with Taiwan has arrived in Taipei, the de facto U.S. embassy said on Tuesday, as Taiwanese officials sought to downplay Donald Trump's latest attacks of the island's crucial chip industry and defence needs.
The United States is Chinese-claimed Taiwan's most important international supporter and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.