TAIPEI (Reuters) – Nikki Haley, Donald Trump’s former rival for the Republican U.S. presidential nomination, said on Saturday that isolationism is not healthy and that the party should side with the country’s allies, especially against China.

Haley, Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations who ran against him at the time, spoke to reporters during a visit to Taiwan and said it was important to support Taiwan, Ukraine and Israel.

“I don’t think the isolationist approach is healthy. I don’t think America can ever stay in a bubble and think that we’re not going to be affected by this,” she said.

Trump’s bid to return to the White House has raised concerns about isolationism among US allies.

During her campaign, Haley called Trump unelectable and unfit for office, but last month she urged her supporters to vote for the former president, who is running against Democratic Party nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in the Nov. 5 election.

Trump unnerved Taiwan, a democratically governed island claimed by China, in July by saying that “Taiwan should pay us for defense” and that it had acquired American semiconductor companies. His comments backfired on shares of Taiwan’s top chipmaker TSMC.

The Taiwanese government rejects China’s claims to sovereignty.

The United States is Taiwan’s main international financier and arms supplier. Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, Washington is legally obligated to provide resources for the island’s defense.

“I want the Republican Party to talk about freedom, to stand with our allies, and to show strength around the world,” Haley said in the capital, Taipei. “We don’t want communist China to win, we don’t want Russia to win, we don’t want Iran to win or North Korea to win.”

After meeting with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te and other senior leaders, Haley said supporting Taiwan was an issue both Republicans and Democrats agreed on. She said the Taiwanese government had not asked her to provide anything to Trump or his team.

When asked if she would brief the Trump campaign about her visit to Taiwan, Haley said she would “not necessarily meet directly with his team” but would give television interviews, likely write an op-ed and send messages to Congress and the Biden-Harris administration.

Taiwan received significant support during the Trump administration, including visits from cabinet members and arms sales.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by William Mallard)