The U.S. Navy said the USS Abraham Lincoln conducted live-fire drills in the South China Sea during its Indo-Pacific deployment.

The aircraft carrier, escorted by several destroyers, used systems such as the Phalanx Close-In Weapon System to demonstrate defensive capabilities.

U.S. officials said the drills aim to deter aggression, strengthen alliances, and promote regional stability.

The exercises come amid heightened global tensions, including recent U.S. military actions abroad and Chinese war games near Taiwan, The Independent has reported.

The deployment follows renewed focus on Taiwan’s security, with the Trump administration approving its largest-ever arms sale to the island.