US to send 'unofficial' delegation to Taiwan after its upcoming election: Report

Meanwhile, news agency Bloomberg reported a senior US official saying that the US is monitoring for any signs of interference from China during the upcoming Taiwan elections, but also has complete confidence in the latter's democratic process.

The official said all communication channels with Beijing remain open prior to the vote and during any transition period.

The Biden administration has been clear to Beijing that it harbors serious concerns about any coercion and is in touch with Taiwan on the matter, the official added. That message, the official said, was conveyed to China in high-level engagements. So far, the US has seen efforts by Beijing to influence information around the upcoming vote, the official said, but that was unlikely to affect the outcome.

US officials have tread carefully regarding the election, highlighting a desire to continue improving relations with Beijing after the November meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping, but warning against efforts to sway the vote, which will likely set the tone for cross-Strait relations and US-China ties for years to come.

Biden, after meeting Xi, reiterated that Beijing should not meddle in the Taiwan election. “I made it clear. I didn’t expect any interference,” Biden said at the time.

The vote pits the ruling Democratic Progressive Party against the opposition Kuomintang, which seeks a more China-friendly policy, and the Taiwan People’s Party. The US does not have a favored candidate, the senior administration official said Wednesday.

The US is also preparing a delegation to Taiwan, according to the official, who said there was longstanding precedent for such visits, Bloomberg reported.