Chinese warships will participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational naval exercises for the first time this year, according to the website of ministry of national defense of China.

The PLA Daily quoted Liang Yang, a navy spokesman, as saying that it is the first time that the Chinese navy has participated in the joint maritime exercises organized by the U.S. 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.