President-elect Trump’s overtures to Taiwan represent a “healthy” approach to U.S. policy in the Pacific, according to Sen. John McCain, who on Monday backed Trump by saying Taiwan is an independent country.

“I think it’s healthy,” the Arizona Republican told CNN’s Jake Tapper. “They’re an independent nation, Taiwan, and I believe in the One China policy, but they are a democracy, which China is not and I believe that a conversation with the president of a freely elected, democratic Taiwan is more than appropriate.”