Taiwan foreign minister visits US for opening of new Arizona office

TAIPEI, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung is visiting the US state of Arizona for the opening of a new de facto consulate in Phoenix, his office said on Sunday.

The US is China-claimed Taiwan's most important international partner and arms supplier, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

• Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC 2330.TW is investing $265 billion in Arizona to make semiconductors. Taiwan's foreign ministry said the new office in Phoenix marks a "milestone in Taiwan-US economic and trade partnership."

• In a statement, the ministry said it would continue to link diplomacy, trade and economics and industry, deepening the mutually "beneficial and symbiotic partnership between Taiwan and the United States based on mutual trust."

• While senior Taiwanese officials visit the US from time to time, President Lai Ching-te has yet to do so under the second administration of US President Donald Trump.

• Trump said in May, following a visit to Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, that he was keeping a new arms sales package for Taiwan on hold, describing it as a good negotiating chip.

• Trump and Xi met in Washington last month, but Trump only said after that summit that the Chinese leader understands his position on Taiwan. China has repeatedly demanded that US arms sales to Taiwan end.