MOSCOW, June 9 (RIA Novosti) — The Chinese navy is to take part in RIMPAC, the world's largest international navy drills, for the first time this summer, China’s Xinhua agency reported Monday.
Started by the US in 1971, with ships from the US, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand, RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise) takes place every other year.
This summer’s drills, scheduled to take place near Hawaii between June 26 and August 1, is to involve 47 ships and six submarines from 23 countries, as well as more than 200 airplanes and 25,000 sailors, according to the US Pacific Fleet website.
China is to send a guided missile destroyer, with an escort ship, a support vessel, an ambulance boat, two helicopters, navy special forces and submarine forces, Xinhua wrote, citing China's navy spokesman Liang Yang. China and the US are planning a joint medical forum, which includes touring each nation's ships.
Russia was first invited to RIMPAC in 2012 but will not participate this year.
