The United States' representative office in Taipei says former senior US officials will meet "a range of leading political figures" in Taiwan on Monday. Analysts say the US side is expected to hold talks with Lai Ching-te, who won the presidential election on Saturday.

The American Institute in Taiwan said on Sunday that the US delegation consists of former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.

It says they will "convey congratulations from the American people to Taiwan on its successful elections...and our longstanding interest in cross-Strait peace and stability."

The talks are believed to be aimed at reaffirming bilateral cooperation to maintain the status quo of the Taiwan Strait amid China's growing military pressure on Taiwan.

But the institute stresses that the US government asked the former officials "to travel in their private capacity to Taiwan," as it has done previously following a presidential election.

Analysts say this is done to accommodate China, which has opposed formal visits between the US and Taiwan.