Biden WH delays long-planned missile tests so as to not ratchet up tensions with China

The United States had an ICBM test scheduled to take place on the west coast of the country, and naturally the test will go on as planned so China knows they can’t dictate the terms of American military operations.

Wait, that’s actually not what’s happening. The Biden White House and Pentagon have said the missile tests will be delayed so as to not further inflame tensions with China:

At WH briefing, NSC's John Kirby announces U.S. will postpone long-planned ICBM test amid tension w/China over Taiwan.

He says U.S. is "demonstrating the behavior of a responsible nuclear power by reducing the risks of miscalculation and misperception."

— Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) August 4, 2022

John Kirby announces "a long planned" Minuteman III missile test scheduled for this week has been rescheduled for "the near future," demonstrating how the U.S. is showing a "resolute but also steady and responsible" posture in face of Chinese overreaction in Indo-Pacific.

— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) August 4, 2022

This all of course comes in the wake of Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

Fox has confirmed, through Hill sources, that the military will delay Minuteman ICBM testes because of concern about ratcheting up tensions with China. One Congressional source tells Fox this will cost “millions of dollars.” A GOP source called this “unbelievably stupid.”

— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) August 4, 2022

A routine test launch of a @usairforce Minuteman III ICBM is being delayed to avoid escalating tensions with #China, reports @WSJ. https://t.co/ygsZHpYmiq

— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) August 4, 2022

The Biden administration seems to be going out of its way to project weakness to the Chi-com leadership:

Amid escalating tensions that saw Chinese state media threaten to shoot down House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s plane ahead of her visit to the island nation during a trip through Asia, the Biden administration announced that it was delaying this weekend’s planned test of the Minuteman III missile.

The decision came from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who claimed the Pentagon was seeking to avoid further inflaming relations with China.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Biden postposed a “routine test launch” of the Air Force’s Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. The “long-planned test” was planned to launch from California’s Vandenberg Space (previously Air) Force Base north of Los Angeles in Santa Barbara County.

Meanwhile, China’s lighting things up all around Taiwan with military exercises.

China's military confirmed multiple firings of conventional missiles in waters off Taiwan as part of planned exercises in six zones set to run until noon on Sunday. It activated more than 100 planes.#Taiwan | #China | #Pelosi https://t.co/cbsw2HImDu

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) August 4, 2022

We’re sure the ChiCom leadership will feel less emboldened because Biden postponed the missile test due to their actions. Or maybe not.