RIMPAC 2018

China’s Defense Ministry on Thursday criticized as “unconstructive” Washington’s

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for it to participate in a multinational naval exercise the U.S. is hosting this summer.

A statement on the ministry’s website said the move would do nothing to change China’s resolve to “play a role in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.”

The U.S. move raises the prospect of a renewed chill in military relations between the two countries amid high-stakes maneuvering over North Korea’s nuclear program, which is scheduled to be the subject of a meeting in June between President Donald Trump and the North’s leader, Kim Jong Un.

The U.S. had included China in the past two versions of the naval exercise known as Rim of the Pacific, or RimPac, in 2014 and

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.

A Pentagon statement said the decision to disinvite the Chinese navy was “an initial response” to what it called China’s militarization of the South China Sea, which China claims almost in its entirety.

The RimPac engagements had been part of an effort by the administration of former President Barack Obama to stabilize military relations with Beijing even as Washington challenged China to

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in the South China Sea. China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves.

The Pentagon cited what it called strong evidence that China has

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,

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and electronic jammers to contested areas in the Spratly Island region of the South China Sea. It called on China to remove these systems.

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taxiya said:

Rimpac is NATO without a treaty from its inception.

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Held every two years by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), and executed by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet (C3F), RIMPAC is a multinational maritime exercise that takes place in and around the Hawaiian Islands. This year’s RIMPAC exercise is the 25th in the series that began in 1971.

Twenty-six nations, 45 surface ships, five submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel will participate. This year's exercise includes units or personnel from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.

RIMPAC is a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes

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At present, NATO has 29 members. In 1949, there were 12 founding members of the Alliance: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. The other member countries are: Greece and Turkey (1952), Germany (1955), Spain (1982), the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland (1999), Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia (2004), Albania and Croatia (2009), and Montenegro (2017).

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bd popeye said:

No it is not. While many Nato nations are invited to RIMPAC , RIMPAC is not orchestrated by NATO.

RIMPAC 2016 participants;



NATO nations;

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taxiya said:

When I said "Rimpac is NATO without a treaty", I meant it is a NATO type of military cooperation of like minded countries, I did not mean it is orchestrated by NATO, or NATO is playing any role in organizing Rimpac.

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he two-ship flotilla of the Philippine Navy, bound for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises off Hawaii, left Cebu along with the Malaysian frigate KD Lekiu Wednesday morning.

The Navy contingent, now called Naval Task Force RIMPAC, is composed of the 7,000-gross-ton strategic sealift vessel BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), the 3,000-gross-ton frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17), and an AgustaWestland AW-109 utility helicopter, along with 700 sailors and marines.

It is commanded by Capt. Ernesto Baldovino while Commodore Toribio Adaci will serve as mission head.

"The Philippine Navy is actively participating in RIMPAC for the very first time through sending contingents and its largest ship, a frigate and modern naval helicopter. This will also be an opportunity for the Navy to build and enhance relationship with other navies participating in the exercise through cultural exchanges, sports and similar activities and also engaging the sizeable Filipino community in Hawaii," Navy spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna said in a statement.

"The vigorous support from the government and its stakeholders through the modernization program, provided the Philippine Navy with the capability to participate in RIMPAC 2018 further fulfilling its diplomatic role in keeping peace and stability in the region," Lincuna added.

The Filipino ships and the Malaysian craft will link up with the Indonesian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Royal Australian Navy for the ASEAN++ Group Sail on their way to RIMPAC 2018.

Lincuna noted that this is the first time the Philippine Navy would deploy naval and air assets to RIMPAC.

RIMPAC 2018 is scheduled on June 27 to August 2.

The Philippine Navy ships left Pier 13, Manila South Harbor for Cebu last June 1 and arrived there Sunday while the KD Lekiu docked there a day later.

Some 30 navies are expected to join this year's RIMPAC.

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