Taiwan to maintain 'close contact' with US on arms sales

In separate comments in the neighbouring city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said he had "deep confidence" in the future of relations with the US.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has embraced Trump's call for US allies to spend more on their defence.

While the US is Taiwan's most important arms supplier, Taipei has its own weapons development programme, covering everything from submarines and fighter jets to long-range missiles.

Taiwan's army on Wednesday showed off its new eight-wheeled armoured combat vehicle fitted with a 105mm gun, practising live fire exercises to demonstrate the domestically made weapon's fighting abilities.

The military also put on display, but did not fire, some of its US-made weapons, such as Lockheed Martin-made LMT.N HIMARS rockets.