RimPac shows China-US ties are manageable

China will participate in this year's Rim of the Pacific Exercise, a biennial joint military drill among 27 countries including the United States, from Thursday. As in 2014, this year too it will take part in "outer" RimPac programs such as humanitarian assistance and anti-terrorism.

China's participation in the US-led RimPac once again shows that the situation in the South China Sea is under control and the possibility of a military conflict remote. Although some countries that have maritime disputes with China have been speculating a possible China-US conflict, RimPac proves them wrong. In fact, Beijing and Washington are expanding their cooperation amid competition.

RimPac is important because it sees the positive interaction of the Chinese and US navies, and shows the two sides are on track to develop a "new type of major-power relationship", as advocated by President Xi Jinping.