US condemns Chinese missile launches, says aircraft carrier to remain in region

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The White House condemned on Thursday China's launching of missiles near Taiwan during live-fire exercises and announced that a US aircraft carrier strike group will remain in the region amid heightened tensions.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said roughly 11 missiles fell to the east, northeast and southeast of the self-ruled island, warning that the US expects "these actions will continue and that the Chinese will continue to react in the coming days."

"We condemn these actions, which are irresponsible and at odds with our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region," Kirby told reporters at the White House. "China has chosen to overreact and use the speaker's visit as a pretext to increase provocative military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait."

He was referring to Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which brought regional tensions to a fever pitch.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its strike group to remain in the region and Kirby said while there it would remain to "monitor the situation."

"They'll be there for a little bit longer than they were originally planned," said Kirby. "I won't get ahead of the ship's schedule but the president believed it was a prudent thing to do -- to leave her and her escort ships there just a little bit longer."​​​​​​​