US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that the United States does not support Taiwan independence after Taiwanese voters rejected China and gave the ruling party, which claims the island is de facto independent, a third presidential term, Reuters reported.

Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te won Saturday’s election, firmly rejecting pressure from China and pledging to stand up to Beijing and seek negotiations, News.ro and Agerpres reported, citing Reuters.

“We do not support independence…” Biden said when asked about the reaction to Saturday’s election in Taiwan.

A few hours before the polls opened, Washington warned that it would be “unacceptable” for “any” country to interfere in the elections.

Taiwan, a neighboring island claimed by China, has been a democratic success story since holding its first direct presidential election in 1996, the culmination of decades of struggle against authoritarian rule and martial law.

• The candidate Lai Ching-te, whom China considers a “serious danger”, won the presidential election in Taiwan.
• Beijing’s reaction: Taiwan belongs to China, and the election will not stop the inevitable trend of Chinese reunification

The United States is Taiwan’s most important international supporter and arms supplier, despite having no formal diplomatic ties to the island.

The Biden administration feared that the election, transition and new administration could intensify the conflict with Beijing.

Biden has made efforts to smooth relations with China, including agreeing to discuss security differences at a summit in California with President Xi Jinping in November.

Taiwan’s government expects China to try to put pressure on its incoming president after the vote, including by holding military exercises near the island this spring, two senior government officials said. China did not for a moment refrain from using force to bring Taiwan under its control.

In support of the government in Taipei, Biden plans to send an unofficial delegation to the autonomous island, a senior US administration official said.

The delegation is likely to include some former senior US officials, according to the official, who said the list has not yet been finalized. Similar delegations have already gone to Taiwan in the past.

China was outraged in 2016 when then-President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen. It was the first such conversation between US and Taiwanese leaders since President Jimmy Carter traded Taiwan’s diplomatic recognition to China in 1979.

Read also:

• Taiwan’s “peace and war” election on Saturday. Why they are important and what to follow
• Four things you need to know about Taiwan electing its president
• Opinion: Taiwan, i.e. the real and democratic Republic of China, is going to vote. We also have a share there