Photos Show US and Chinese Aircraft Carriers in Pacific W...

By Ryan Chan

China News Reporter

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Officially released photos and satellite imagery have captured United States and Chinese aircraft carriers across the Pacific Ocean over the past week, as both sides jostle for naval dominance in the region as part of their "great power competition."

The presence of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers symbolizes America's commitment to keeping the Indo-Pacific region free and open, the U.S. Navy said in a photo caption.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Why It Matters

Serving as floating air bases at sea, aircraft carriers are a key indicator of a nation's military strength. China and the U.S., which operate the world's largest and second-largest naval fleets by hull count, have three and 11 aircraft carriers, respectively.

Great power competition has been the principle of U.S. national security policy since the first Trump administration, while the Pentagon has considered the Indo-Pacific its priority theater, with China as a "pacing threat" to America's influence and power.

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As part of its efforts to reassure allied and partner countries near China, which has rapidly expanded its navy, the U.S. military has stationed an aircraft carrier in Japan, while West Coast-based aircraft carriers are regularly dispatched to the western Pacific.

What To Know

According to U.S. Naval Institute News, three Pacific-based U.S. aircraft carriers were tracked underway as of November 24: USS George Washington and USS Nimitz in the western Pacific, and USS Abraham Lincoln departing from San Diego in California.

The Nimitz, the oldest U.S. operational aircraft carrier and likely on its final overseas deployment, arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii on Saturday for a scheduled port visit during operations in the 3rd Fleet area in the eastern Pacific.

This visit marked a milestone as the Nimitz returned to U.S. soil after more than eight months abroad, the ship's Facebook post read, noting that Pearl Harbor reminded them of the generations of sailors who served before and the legacy the ship carries forward.

The Nimitz's presence in the South China Sea, where it lost a helicopter and a fighter jet in October, was replaced by the George Washington. Photos released by the Navy show the aircraft carrier conducting flight operations in the region as of November 24.

The George Washington is the only forward-deployed U.S. aircraft carrier, having been homeported in Japan since November 2024. The warship is capable of operating F-35C stealth fighter jets, bolstering American forces in the western Pacific to deter China.

Following its departure on November 21, the Abraham Lincoln was spotted by satellite imagery 116 miles southwest of San Diego, off the coast of Mexico, two days later, according to open-source analyst @MT_Anderson on the social media platform X.

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Citing a Pentagon official, USNI News reported that the Abraham Lincoln is currently on a Pacific deployment. However, it was not immediately clear how long the aircraft carrier will remain in the eastern Pacific before commencing its westward transit.

Latest photos released on Sunday show the Abraham Lincoln conducting what the Navy described as "routine operations" in the eastern Pacific within the 3rd Fleet area.

Meanwhile, two Chinese aircraft carriers—CNS Shandong and CNS Fujian—were pierside at their home ports at Yulin Naval Base near Sanya in Hainan province, north of the South China Sea, according to satellite imagery taken on November 27.

The Fujian, entering service in early November, is China's most-advanced aircraft carrier, equipped with electromagnetic catapults to launch heavier fixed-wing aircraft, including J-35 stealth jets, enhancing the capabilities of China's aircraft carrier fleet.

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What People Are Saying

USS Nimitz's Facebook page said on November 29: "As we prepare for the next phase of operations, our team remains focused, resilient, and united, honoring the past while working together to meet the mission!"

The U.S. Navy said in a November 24 photo caption: "George Washington is the U.S. Navy's premier forward-deployed aircraft carrier, a long-standing symbol of the United States' commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, while operating alongside allies and partners across the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet."

Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said on November 14: "The selection of the home port for aircraft carrier [CNS] Fujian is determined based on factors such as the hydrological conditions of the military port, the location and construction of supporting facilities, and the convenience for the aircraft carrier to carry out maritime combat readiness and training missions."

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen whether China will deploy either the Shandong or the Fujian while the George Washington is present in the South China Sea. The Abraham Lincoln may conduct a joint operation with its sister ship to signal U.S. naval power.

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