By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies

The United States will send a “high-level unofficial delegation” to Taiwan after the island’s presidential and legislative elections on Saturday, a senior administration official said Wednesday.

The move is likely to anger China, which claims Taiwan as its territory.

The official said the delegation will be made up of former high-ranking officials and will visit Taiwan to “ensure clear communication” with the country’s next leader.

The official said the delegation will also “undertake a range of activities to deepen our engagement with the people of Taiwan.”

China has long been wary of any official contact between the United States and Taiwan. In 2022, Beijing suspended eight official military dialogues and cooperation channels with Washington after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei.

However, the official said the Biden administration believes that sending a delegation to Taiwan is consistent with the “One China policy.”

“The delegation is not a government-to-government visit,” the official said. “It is an unofficial visit that is consistent with our One China policy and the status quo.”

The “One China policy” is the official position of the United States that recognizes Beijing as the government of China and that Taiwan is a part of China. However, the United States also maintains unofficial ties with Taiwan and sells its arms to help it defend itself.

The official said the delegation will also “reaffirm our commitment to Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.”

“Taiwan is a vibrant democracy and a key partner of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region,” the official said. “We will continue to support Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.”

The official said the Biden administration is “deeply concerned” about China’s increasingly aggressive behavior towards Taiwan.

“China’s actions have created an atmosphere of uncertainty and tension across the Taiwan Strait,” the official said. “We urge China to cease its military intimidation and to engage in constructive dialogue with Taiwan.”

The official said the United States is committed to the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue.

“We believe that cross-strait differences should be resolved through peaceful means,” the official said. “We will continue to work with Taiwan and other partners to promote stability and prosperity in the region.”