TAIPEI/WASHINGTON (REUTERS) – A two-star Navy admiral overseeing US military intelligence in the Asia-Pacific region has made an unannounced visit to Taiwan, two sources told Reuters on Sunday (Nov 22), in a high-level trip that could vex China.

The sources, who include a Taiwanese official familiar with the situation, said the official was Rear-Admiral Michael Studeman.

They were speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to the Navy’s website, Studeman is director of the J2, which oversees intelligence, at the US military’s Indo-Pacific Command.

The Pentagon, asked whether Studeman was visiting Taiwan, declined to comment. China claims democratically-run Taiwan as its own territory.

The Trump administration has ramped up support for Taiwan, including with new arms sales and high-level visits.

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