Boys and their toys: RIMPAC and China's 'surveillance vessel' spy ship

RIMPAC (Rim of Pacific Exercise) World's largest international maritime warfare exercise. First held 1971. By invitation of US. Honolulu, Hawaii Headquartered at Pearl Harbor Held biennially June/July (even-numbered years) Administered by US Navy's Pacific Fleet with: Marine Corps Coast Guard Hawaii National Guard under the control of the Governor of Hawaii. Purpose 'Enhance interoperability between Pacific Rim armed forces, ostensibly as a means of promoting stability in the region to the benefit of all participating nations' 'unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s ocean.' Regulars United States (US)* Canada* Australia* New Zealand United Kingdom (UK)     * Participated every RIMPAC since 1971 Other regular participants Chile Colombia France Indonesia Japan Malaysia Netherlands Peru Singapore South Korea Thailand !  Royal New Zealand Navy was frequently involved until 1985 ANZUS nuclear ships dispute (has participated 2012 and will in 2014) "... in late 1984 the United States requested that the ageing guided missile destroyer USS Buchanan visit New Zealand. The Americans hoped that public suspicions that it was not nuclear armed would be enough for it to slip under the political radar, and believed they had Lange's agreement. But on 4 February 1985 the government said no. 'Near-uncertainty was not now enough for us,' Lange later explained. 'Whatever the truth of its armaments, its arrival in New Zealand would be seen as a surrender by the government.' In response Washington severed visible intelligence and military ties with New Zealand and downgraded political and diplomatic exchanges. George Schultz confirmed that the United States could no longer maintain its security guarantee to New Zealand, although the ANZUS treaty structure remained in place." [here] Observer nations (usually invited) (no ships) China Ecuador India Mexico Philippines Russia (first time @ 2012) Strategic level involvement and  opportunity to prepare for (possible) full participation in the future. [SOURCE - Wikipedia]

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COMMENT

Geez, the US sulked a long time after being denied NZ entry. LOL

No doubt Russia didn't get an invite this year.

And, horror of horrors, China (who did get an invite) has been accused of spying from international waters:

China spy ship lurks as vessels join U.S. in naval drill Bloomberg July 21, 2014 10:27  [...] China’s Defense Ministry said the movements of the Chinese ship in international waters complied with international law, the state-owned Global Times reported. “China respects the rights enjoyed by all relevant coastal states under international law, and hopes that relevant countries respect the rights enjoyed by Chinese ships according to the law,” an official in the ministry’s news department was quoted as saying. China has long complained about U.S. surveillance activities off China’s coast within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone. In 2009, China said that a Navy surveillance ship conducted activity in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Yellow Sea that violated international and Chinese laws. The USNS Victorious didn’t seek China’s permission, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said at the time.  [...]  SOURCE - Thanh Nien News - here .

Not sure why this is considered such poor form; China might have been testing out their equipment.  LOL

Anyway, this is RIMPAC, folks.