DHAKA: Three Chinese ships carrying hundreds of sailors arrived in Hawaii on Friday to join a search-and-rescue exercise with the United States Navy during a rare visit intended to foster familiarity.

The guided missile destroyer Qingdao, a frigate and a supply ship were welcomed with performances by lion dancers and a children’s hula group.

The ships carrying 680 officers and sailors will participate in the exercise on Monday with the USS Lake Erie in waters off Waikiki and Diamond Head.

The exercise is an important way for the two navies to share information about operations so they do not misinterpret movements and potentially start a conflict, said Brad Glosserman, executive director of Pacific Forum at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

‘There are lots of places where our vessels could end up in proximity, and we want to make very sure that when that happens we have the best possible understanding of what the other side is doing and why,’ he said, The Straits Times publishes this report on Saturday.

BDST: 1458 HRS, SEPT 07, 2013
RoR/SRS