US President Joe Biden has sent an unofficial delegation of former officials to Taiwan in support of the democratic island, Reuters reports.

The official called it “a personal signal” from the president.

“The selection of these three individuals – senior statesmen who are longtime friends of Taiwan and personally close with President Biden – sends an important signal about the U.S. commitment to Taiwan and its democracy.”

Biden's predecessor, Donald Trump, has stepped up contacts and visits to Taiwan by US officials as relations between Washington and Beijing have deteriorated due to a variety of problems.