WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will send an unofficial delegation of former senior officials to Taiwan shortly after the self-governing island holds elections for a new president this weekend, a move that could upset Beijing in the already fragile bilateral relationship.
A senior administration official confirmed the plan Wednesday without providing more details but said such a face-to-face meeting was the “most effective way” to engage Taiwan’s new government and convey U.S. policy in the region.
The official, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive plans, said the government believed the move would contribute to peace and stability in the region.
Beijing claims Taiwan is part of Chinese territory and promises to eventually unite with it. The Chinese have repeatedly warned Washington to stay out of Taiwan and oppose any official contact between the U.S. and Taiwanese governments.
In August 2022, Beijing responded angrily by firing missiles and blockading the island after then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. Chinese President Xi Jinping called Taiwan the “most sensitive issue” in US-China relations during his most recent meeting with President Joe Biden in November.
Washington has a security treaty with Taiwan to provide the country with sufficient hardware and technology to deter any armed attack from the mainland. The US has increased support for Taiwan and its democratically elected government in recent years, as Beijing increases military and diplomatic pressure on the island.
The US government does not side with the island’s state, but insists that the differences must be resolved peacefully. Biden told Xi in November that the US government opposes any unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
The Biden administration has not endorsed any political party or candidate in Taiwan’s upcoming presidential election. Beijing, for its part, has made it clear that it does not want a victory for Lai Ching-te, the candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party known for his pro-independence stance.
Lai is considered the frontrunner in the race, but Hou Yu-ih of the opposition Kuomintang party is following closely. Kuomintang opposes independence, but is also not in favor of unification with the mainland.
Beijing has labeled Lai a “Taiwan independence element,” and Chinese officials have suggested to Taiwanese voters that they could choose between war and peace as Beijing has vowed to annex the island by force if it declares independence. However, Lai is unlikely. to take such a drastic step.
The U.S. official acknowledged that a period of heightened tensions lies ahead with Taiwan’s presidential election, but said there have been “unforeseen conversations” within the U.S. government about how to handle it. The official added that the White House is also in discussions with Beijing about Taiwan to “address difficult situations” and avoid unintended conflicts.
The US official also said the Biden administration opposes any outside interference in Taiwan’s elections and has repeatedly raised these concerns with Chinese officials.