Australian parliamentary delegation plans to visit Taiwan next week

Despite China's criticism of British parliamentarians' ongoing visit to Taiwan, which it calls "gross interference" in the East Asian state's internal affairs, a six-member Australian parliamentary delegation from both Labor and the Coalition will visit the East Asian state next week, the first such visit in years.

The trip is being organized by Liberal MP Scott Buchholz, and will include former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, as well as Labor MPs Meryl Swanson and Libby Coker, Australian ABC news reported on Saturday.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has downplayed the significance of the trip, stating that politicians visiting Taiwan is not unusual.