Taiwan's partnership with the United States is a source of strength for the high-tech industry, including the semiconductor sector, and shows the island is a trusted and reliable partner, President Lai Ching-te told a think-tank in Hawaii.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s brief stop in Hawaii may have appeared understated – no formal US reception, no grand speeches – but its implications extend far beyond floral wreaths and banquets.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has arrived in the US state of Hawaii for a two-day visit, drawing a furious reaction from China. The trip is being billed as a stopover as part of a Pacific tour, but comes amid long-running tensions between the US and China and growing concerns about the possibility of conflict over Taiwan.