Navy's role in multinational drills signals military transparency

China is expected to participate in more multinational military drills - such as the recently completed Rim of the Pacific exercise - to demonstrate stronger security transparency and coexist with the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, senior military officers and observers said.

The media limelight shone on China as the People's Liberation Army for the first time joined the US-led RIMPAC exercise, which involved forces from more than 20 countries for drills from July 9 through Friday.

Four ships from the PLA navy with about 1,100 personnel on board joined the world's largest maritime exercise, which was first held in 1971.