Heavyweight unofficial US delegation visits Taiwan

An unofficial US delegation of former high level national security officials went to Taiwan to meet with government members, a senior US official said.

The visit, held amid simmering tensions with China over Taiwan and the crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, does not include current US officials.

However, it is "in coordination with the White House and the Biden administration," the senior official said.

Delegation members include former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and retired admiral Michael Mullen, and the former deputy national security advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan, Meghan O'Sullivan.

Also going are former under secretary of defence for policy Michele Flournoy and former National Security Council senior directors for Asia Mike Green and Evan Medeiros. 

"During its visit, the delegation will meet senior Taiwanese officials," the US official said, noting that there is a "longstanding bipartisan tradition of US administrations sending high level, unofficial delegations to Taiwan."

Last year, the delegation included a former senator and two former deputy secretaries of state.

The latest visit "sends an important signal about the bipartisan US commitment to Taiwan and its democracy and demonstrates that the Biden administration’s and the United States' commitment to Taiwan remains rock solid," the US official said.

Democratic Taiwan has watched the Ukraine situation closely as it lives under constant threat of a Chinese invasion, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over the island and vowing to seize it one day -- by force, if necessary.

Washington diplomatically recognizes Beijing over Taipei but it is also bound by Congress to sell Taiwan weapons to defend itself.