Taiwan's ties with US state and federal officials got a friendly public boost at a long-running cultural festival in Rhode Island — a small but positive sign for Taipei's standing in Washington.

• Rhode Island held its 25th annual dragon boat race and Taiwan Day, drawing thousands of local residents.
• Taiwan's top envoy to the US, Alexander Yui, joined Governor Dan McKee, Senator Jack Reed, and Representatives Gabe Amo and Seth Magaziner.
• Yui tied the event to two anniversaries — 250 years of American independence and 30 years of direct presidential elections in Taiwan — and framed the relationship around shared democratic values.
• A 13-member Taiwanese percussion troupe led by Chiu Tai-san opened its US tour at the festival, mixing traditional and modern styles.
• Boston's Taiwanese dragon boat team took the overall title for the first time in three years.

Outlook: Expect more of these low-key cultural events as Taipei works to keep bipartisan US support visible at the state level.