China wanted an 'excuse to bully' Taiwan, says US Senator Blackburn on 3-day Taipei visit

US Senator Marsha Blackburn said in Taipei Friday that China was just waiting for an "excuse to bully Taiwan".

Blackburn arrived in Taipei late Thursday after visiting Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea as part of a U.S. push to "expand our diplomatic footprint in the area," her office said in a statement.

Following Pelosi's trip, a delegation of House and Senate members visited.

This week, Indiana's governor made a visit focused on business and academic cooperation.

U.S politicians have called their visits a show of support for the island.

During her three-day visit, Blackburn is also due to meet with the head of Taiwan's National Security Council.

Washington has no official diplomatic ties with Taipei in deference to China, but remains the island's biggest security guarantor, with U.S. law requiring it ensure Taiwan has the means to defend itself and to regard threats to the island as matters of "grave concern."

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war and have no official relations but are bound by billions of dollars of trade and investment.

China has increased its pressure on Taiwan since it elected independence-leaning Tsai as its president. When Tsai refused to endorse the concept of a single Chinese nation, China cut off contact with the Taiwanese government.