Drills called sign of healthy ties as PLA fleet heads to Pearl Harbor

The People's Liberation Army Navy fleet is scheduled to sail into Pearl Harbor on Wednesday to participate in the Rim of the Pacific naval exercises, known as RIMPAC 2016.

China's involvement, the second since 2014, reflects the stable and healthy development of military ties between China and the United States, despite the growing tensions in the South China Sea, experts said.

The Chinese fleet consists of five ships - the missile destroyer Xi'an, the missile frigate Hengshui, the supply ship Gaoyouhu, the hospital ship Peace Ark and the submarine rescue vessel Changdao. Three helicopters, a marine squad and a diving squad, as well as 1,200 officers and soldiers, also will participate.