TAIPEI — The United States will not rule out the possibility of jointly producing weapons with Taiwan, its top diplomat in Taipei said on Sept 4, adding that the island's defence needs were the top priority for US arms deliveries.

The United States is Taiwan's most important international supporter and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal ties with the Chinese-claimed island, and Raymond Greene, the newly appointed director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) and de facto US ambassador, was speaking to reporters in Taipei.

"The US is now working with a number of partners looking at possibilities of expanding our joint production of military supplies, and I'll not rule out Taiwan being one of those partners in the future," Greene said without giving details.

He also said that keeping a "strategic balance" in the region would foster cross strait relations, in reference to China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory.

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