China launched military exercises in response to Pelosi's visit, as a result of the decision to postpone the test flight of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered DOD to postpone the scheduled test flight as a precaution, the official said.
The decision was made due to increased military activity by the People's Republic of China around Taiwan, the official said. The official said that the postponement was a type of thing that responsible nations do. The test is scheduled to happen Wednesday evening into Thursday. It will be determined at a later date.
On Thursday, China made a promise that Taipei would pay a price for hosting Pelosi by firing multiple missiles into waters near northeastern and southwestern Taiwan.
The US has canceled a missile test due to geopolitical events, and this is not the first time in recent months. In March, Austin canceled a planned test of a Minute Man III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile to avoid any actions misunderstood or misconstrued during heightened tensions with Russia, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said at the time. The Wall Street Journal reported on the missile test delay. The unarmed US ICBMs are routinely tested to ensure the reliability of the systems.