Washington is publicly backing Taiwan's seat at the Pacific Islands Forum — good news for Taipei, and another friction point with Beijing over influence in the Pacific.

• The State Department called Taiwan a reliable, democratic partner and said it strongly supports Taiwan staying in the forum.
• Taiwan's foreign minister is in Palau for the leaders' meeting, holding side talks with Pacific allies.
• Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau is touring Palau, Micronesia, the Solomon Islands and Kiribati to shore up U.S. ties in the region.
• Taiwan has been a development partner in the forum since 1993, and three of its remaining diplomatic allies are members.

Outlook: Expect pushback from China as the leaders' meeting runs through early September and Washington keeps courting Pacific island governments.