A U.S. Navy supercarrier is now operating in waters claimed by China, marking a strong show of American military presence in the South China Sea.
The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) carried out live-fire exercises and replenishment operations last week as part of routine U.S. Navy activities. The Pentagon confirmed the carrier is operating in accordance with international law and freedom of navigation principles.
China claims most of the South China Sea as its sovereign territory. The United States and its allies reject those claims and consider the waters international and neutral.
During the operation, the carrier tested its Phalanx Close-In Weapon System and conducted flight operations with F-35C fighter jets. Supply ships and helicopters supported the exercises at sea.
The Abraham Lincoln replaced the USS Nimitz, which recently returned home after its final deployment. The Nimitz is expected to be decommissioned later this year after more than 50 years of service.
U.S. Navy officials said the carrier’s presence shows a continued commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” The strike group previously made a port visit to Guam, a key U.S. military hub in the region.
The carrier strike group includes three guided missile destroyers, providing added defense and strike capability during the deployment.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has served for more than four decades and remains one of the Navy’s most advanced warships. Its current mission comes amid growing tensions between the U.S. and China over military activity and territorial claims in the region.
Follow on Google News
