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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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A United States aircraft carrier deployed in the South China Sea recently conducted live-fire drills to test its last line of defense amid China's growing missile threat, designed to sink warships and counter the American military presence in the Pacific.
The U.S. Navy said the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group were conducting "routine operations" in the South China Sea as part of regular patrols in the broader Indo-Pacific region to deter aggression and promote peace through strength.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Why It Matters
Facing China's rapidly growing naval power, with the world's largest warship fleet by hull count, the U.S. military maintains a presence of aircraft carriers in the western Pacific, signaling its security commitments to allies and partners—such as Japan and the Philippines—that have been concerned about China's assertive activities at sea.
Missiles are central to China's strategy for threatening U.S. military operations along the first island chain—Beijing's strategic center of gravity that stretches from Japan to Malaysia. The Chinese military possesses a wide range of anti-ship missiles, including some that travel at hypersonic speeds and are capable of reaching the U.S. West Coast.
What To Know
An image released by the U.S. Navy on Sunday shows the Abraham Lincoln firing a 20 mm Gatling gun, known as the Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), during live-fire exercises while transiting an undisclosed location in the South China Sea on January 8.
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According to the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command, the CIWS is described as the "ultimate safeguard" in combat, providing "a final line of protection" for warships when a short-range threat—such as anti-ship missiles or aircraft—is seconds from impact.
There are three CIWS variants—gun-based, missile-based and a hybrid configuration combining both—designed to automatically respond to threats in a way that exceeds human reaction times, using rapid-fire guns or missile launchers, the command said.
The Abraham Lincoln is equipped with two gun-based Phalanx variants as part of its self-defense systems. Because of its distinctive cylindrical design, the Phalanx CIWS is also nicknamed R2-D2, after a fictional robot character from the Star Wars franchise.
The Phalanx CIWS was recently tested in naval combat when the U.S. destroyer USS Gravely successfully intercepted a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels at a range of about a mile while operating in the Red Sea, CNN reported in February 2024.
Other self-defense systems on the aircraft carrier include two Rolling Airframe Missile launchers, also classified as CIWS, and two Evolved SeaSparrow Missile launchers, which can intercept threats at greater distances than the CIWS.
The San Diego-based Abraham Lincoln has been on a Pacific mission since departing home in November. Before entering the South China Sea, it operated in the Philippine Sea and visited Guam, the westernmost U.S. territory in the second island chain.
A second U.S. aircraft carrier, USS George Washington, remained at its home port at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan, according to satellite imagery taken on January 9.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command said in a report: "As threats to naval forces evolve, every countermeasure must be considered. CIWS continues to adapt to emerging challenges and has solidified itself as the standard point-defense system across the fleet, allowing for prompt and sustained combat at sea."
U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Todd Whalen, the commander of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group, said: "Our Strike Group presence in 7th Fleet waters demonstrates our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. … Port calls to strategic locations like Guam enhance our mission readiness and help us stay ready to execute maritime operations in theater."
What Happens Next
It remains unclear whether the U.S. military will reposition the Abraham Lincoln to the Middle East after President Donald Trump said the Pentagon is considering what he describes as "strong options" in response to Iran's violent crackdown on protesters.
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