Amid escalating tensions between Taiwan and China, the Biden Administration has ordered the US Navy aircraft carrier the USS Ronald Reagan to maintain its current position near Taiwan as a deterrent to more aggressive actions by China, Politico reports.
China has undertaken various provocative actions in the days since Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced a possible trip to Taiwan–one which she made earlier this week. China ordered military aircraft to launch simultaneous runs at the island before turning away at the last moment, and it flew drone incursions into Taiwan airspace.
The Pentagon also announced the delay of a test firing of the Minuteman III ICBM system so as to not engage in an act that could be look at as aggressive. “As China engages in destabilizing military exercises around Taiwan, the United States is demonstrating instead the behavior of a responsible nuclear power, by reducing the risks of miscalculation and misperception,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said of the decision.