Chinese navy to join 2014 RIMPAC naval drill

The Peace Ark hospital ship is ready to set off for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational naval exercises from a port in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province on June 9, 2014. [Photo by Ju Zhenhua / for chinadaily.com.cn]

BEIJING -- The Chinese navy will participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational naval exercises for the first time this year, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily reported Monday.

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The PLA Daily quoted Liang Yang, navy spokesman, as saying that it is the first time the Chinese navy will participate in the joint maritime exercises organized by the US navy.

Liang was quoted as saying Chinese forces attending the drill will include a missile destroyer, a missile frigate, a supplier ship, a hospital ship and two vessel-carried helicopters, a special battle force and a diving force.

As previously agreed by leaders from the Chinese and US navies, the Chinese navy will take part in cannon firing exercises, comprehensive exercises, maritime security actions, maritime warship exercises, military medicine exchanges, humanitarian aid and disaster reduction as well as diving drills.

A medical forum will be held between the Chinese and the US sides during the drill, which will include visits to each other's ships.

According to the drill schedule, naval forces from China, Singapore and Brunei will join a US cruiser in waters off Guam in mid-June and then sail to Pearl Harbor in formation.