Senior U.S. State Department official to visit Taiwan for weekend memorial service

WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. Undersecretary for Economic Affairs Keith Krach will visit Taiwan for a memorial service for former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui on Saturday, the U.S. State Department said, a move likely to anger Beijing at a time when U.S.-China ties are at their lowest ebb in decades.

"The United States honors President Lee’s legacy by continuing our strong bonds with Taiwan and its vibrant democracy through shared political and economic values," a State Department statement announcing Krach's trip said on Thursday. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Tim Ahmann Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)