The United States sees the current Chinese participation in RIMPAC 2014 as a 'modest' improvement in the relations between the two countries.

Comments by Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery state that U.S.-Sino relations have improved 'modestly' in the past year despite occasional tension over territorial disputes and strategic issues in the Asian-Pacific region.

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"We're doing our best to reach out and build relationships and strengthen [inter-military coordination], and increase transparency and sharing," says Montgomery in a recent interview aboard USS George Washington during a pass through South China Sea.

In the same interview, Montgomery also cited China's first-ever participation in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational military exercises this year as an indicator of the improving ties between China and the U.S.

Since 2010, the U.S. has been bent on including China in the biennial military exercises to improve military-to-military relations and mutual trust between the two countries.

According to analysts, Chinese participation in the drill is a sign of a softer stance taken by Beijing, which had refused Washington's invitation to the preceding RIMPAC stating that it was part of U.S. efforts to boost its Asian alliances and contain China's military growth.

However, these indicators of improving ties was tainted by unfriendly exchanges three weeks ago during an annual security summit in Singapore where U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel blamed China for fueling tensions with some Asian neighbors by asserting territorial claims in disputed waters.

In spite of this, the U.S. remains hopeful in building stronger inter-military relations with China and wants the country to play its part.

"There's more opportunity for the [People's Liberation Army Navy] to show more transparency to us. We're looking forward to reciprocal visits to their aircraft carrier... as much as we give them numerous visits to our aircraft carriers," says Montgomery.

TagsRIMPAC 2014, US-Sino relations