It's the first time that China has sent delegates to watch US military exercises on American territory. It's also the first time that China has been invited to observe exercises solely conducted by the US Army.

The Chinese delegation visited the flight deck, hangar, command post and flight control post of the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), the largest and latest US aircraft carrier. They watched carrier planes' taking-off and landing, formation flying, among other training exercises. Chinese officials also exchanged views with their US peers on weaponry, equipment, tactics, command and management, Xinhua said.

Officers, diplomats and reporters from China, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and Singapore also boarded the Ronald Reagan, along with the Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and Kitty Hawk (CV-63) aircraft carriers, by plane.

The US Pacific Command announced on June 5 that the United States army would hold a large-scale exercise in the sea near Guam from June 19 to June 23. Three aircraft carrier fleets would take part in the exercises, involving a total of 30 warships, 280 warplanes and 22,000 soldiers.

The exercise will focus on the integration of joint training programs among the US military forces, according to the US Pacific Command.

William Fallon, the commander of the US Pacific Command, officially invited the Chinese officials to view the exercises during his visit to China in May.