TAIPEI, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Taiwan looks forward to producing "democracy chips" with the United States, President Tsai Ing-wen told the visiting governor of the U.S. state of Arizona, Doug Ducey, on Thursday.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC) (2330.TW), a major Apple Inc (AAPL.O) supplier and the world's largest contract chipmaker, is constructing a $12 billion plant in Arizona.

"In the face of authoritarian expansionism and the challenges of the post-pandemic era, Taiwan seeks to bolster cooperation with the United States in the semiconductor and other high-tech industries," Tsai said at the meeting in the presidential office in Taipei.

"This will help build more secure and more resilient supply chains. We look forward to jointly producing democracy chips to safeguard the interests of our democratic partners and create greater prosperity."

Ducey, a Republican, is the latest in a succession of officials from the United States to visit, defying pressure from China for such trips not to take place.

He told Tsai that their partnership with Taiwan was "the greatest" in the semiconductor industry.

"TSMC's legacy investment has elevated the potential for what's possible between Arizona and Taiwan," Ducey said.

"Arizona stands with Taiwan, and we look forward to building on the many opportunities ahead."

China claims Taiwan as its territory despite the strong objections of the democratically elected government in Taipei, which rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.