China will send five warships of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) to participate in the massive RIMPAC or Rim of the Pacific naval exercise, the world's largest that will involve warships from 27 countries led by the United States.

This is only the second time China has been invited to this exercise. The first was in 2014.

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The bi-annual exercise will take place from June 30 to August 4 and will cover a vast area extending from Hawaii to the West Coast of the U.S. mainland.

In all, RIMPAC 2016 will involve 45 warships; five submarines; over 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel from 27 countries. Of keen interest to foreign navies will be the interaction between the PLAN and the U.S. Navy, which are engaged in a dangerous game of brinkmanship in the South China Sea.

To be deployed to RIMPAC 2016 by the PLAN will be two surface combatants: Xian, a Luyang II-class guided-missile destroyer and Hengshui, a Jiangkai II-class guided-missile frigate.  PLAN naval support ships at the exercise will be Daishandao (or Peace Ark), an Anwei-class hospital ship; Gaoyao Hu, a Fusu-class replenishment ship and Changdao, a Dalao-class submarine rescue ship.

Daishandao took part in RIMPAC 2014. In addition to the five ships participating this year, China will also send a diving and a marine squad.

PLAN will deploy 1,200 officers and sailors to RIMPAC 2016 compared to the 1,000 personnel it sent to RIMPAC 2014.

Apart from the United States and China, this year's RIMPAC will include ships from Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga and the United Kingdom.

Denmark, Germany and Italy are taking part for the first time.

RIMPAC 2016, with the theme of "Capable, Adaptive, Partners," will include maritime security operations, sea control and complex war-fighting. The exercise will also see submarine rescue exercises in addition to command and control-focused drills for the first time.

There will also be a Harpoon missile launch from a U.S. Navy littoral combat ship. Two drills will involve sinking a pair of decommissioned U.S. warships with missiles and torpedoes.

Hosted every two years by the United States Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that fosters relationships vital to "ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans." 

TagsPeople's Liberation Army Navy, RIMPAC 2016, Rim of the Pacific naval exercise, U.S. Navy