Top Pentagon official to visit Taiwan, report says, amid US-China tensions

Relations between Beijing and Washington have soured since the US accused China of sending a spy balloon into its airspace

A top Pentagon official will visit Taiwan in coming days, according to reports, as attempts between the US and China to repair relations continue to backslide after the US shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon in its airspace.

Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defence for China, is expected to visit Taiwan in coming days, according to the Financial Times, after he leaves Mongolia where he is meeting its military.