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Chinese, U.S. warships rendezvous in west Pacific Ocean for RIMPAC 2016
Source: China Military OnlineEditor: Zhang Tao
2016-06-20 16:410

Chinese sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer Xi'an ride in a rigid hull inflatable boat in preparation to board the guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale (DDG-106) for a coordination meeting. The Chinese naval fleet participating in the RIMPAC 2016 joined the U.S. naval fleet in the western Pacific at noon on June 18, local time.


WESTERN PACIFIC, June 20 (ChinaMil) –The Chinese naval fleet participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 joint exercise has arrived at southern waters of the Daito Islands, Western Pacific, and joined the USS Stockdale (DDG-106) and Lawrence (DDG-4) at noon on June 18, 2016.

It is reported that the Chinese fleet comprises guided-missile destroyer Xi'an, guided-missile frigate Hengshui, comprehensive supply ship Gaoyouhu, hospital ship Peace Ark, comprehensive submarine rescue ship Changdao, three ship-borne helicopters, one special operations team and one diving team, and it departed from a military port in Zhoushan City in east China's Zhejiang Province on June 15, 2016.

After the rendezvous, operations officers of the Chinese fleet rode in a rigid-hull inflatable boat to visit the USS Stockdale for a coordination meeting on matters related with the navigation phase.

After the coordination meeting, seven ships from the two sides formed a combined task group with the USS Stockdale as the flagship, and the task group is expected to reach Pearl Harbor on June 29, local time.

Wang Sheqiang, commander of the Chinese naval fleet, introduced that according to the arrangements of the coordination meeting, the two sides will conduct drills on such subjects on their way to Pearl Harbor as communications, tactical maneuver, screen exercise, replenishment at sea (RAS), emergency disposal, main gun firing as well as aerial photography.

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