The 24th Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime military exercise kicked off Thursday and is scheduled to last to August 1 in and around the Hawaii Island of the US. Led by Washington, the biennial drill that began in 1971 is billed as the world's largest international maritime exercise. And this year there are 47 ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel from 23 countries participating. China has sent multiple ships, as well as two helicopters, to the drill for the first time.

Then US secretary of defense Leon Edward Panetta invited China to take part in the multinational maritime exercise when he visited Beijing in September 2012.

In addition, the US extended the invitation in the hope that Beijing will observe international maritime norms and rules amid escalating tensions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

The US is actually adopting a double standard by urging other nations to abide by the maritime order as it currently exists, although it has yet to ink the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

And to respond to the complaints of the international community, especially the West, that China lacks transparency in its military budget and design, Beijing accepted the offer to display its operational and tactical capacities and proficiency.

Joining such a large-scale multilateral exercise will help Beijing to accumulate experience of carrying out various maritime missions ranging from contingency response to resupplying to humanitarian aid. In the past it was not easy to head into waters under US jurisdiction, so the joint exercise will help the Chinese navy become familiar with hydrological and geological features in the sea lanes, hence effectively avoiding possible risks.

The Chinese navy will also gain more capacities to respond rapidly to natural disasters including typhoon and tsunami or humanitarian catastrophes. The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March that has gripped the world provides a vivid lesson.

Learning how to better and faster coordinate multinational efforts is an essential part in the rescue operation. For instance, the Peace Ark, carrying advanced medical and surgical equipment, is among the Chinese deployment as the first hospital ship to take part in the RIMPAC.

China's decision to make its debut in the seafaring exercise also indicates a change in its attitude toward coordinating efforts involving multiple participants. It can further beef up its maritime power and better protect its rights and interests through international participation and cooperation. Suffice to say, the multinational exercise will help Beijing improve its profile on the world stage as its techniques, skills and procedures will be fully exposed to foreign scrutiny.

Media outlets and scholars have predicted the joint military drill will help improve Sino-US relations that are currently at a relatively low point, as it started amid spiraling tensions in the Asia-Pacific region with the US rebalancing to Asia, growing Beijing influence and a myriad of territorial rifts.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the contradictions between Beijing and Washington are structural and therefore nearly impossible to reshape via tactical and operational collaboration. And there are diverse interpretations of how to ease tensions in the region. In this way the drill is more of symbolic importance.

However, there is no denying that China's involvement could be viewed as a milestone in the country's military diplomacy.

Since military ties also adhere to a non-confrontational and cooperative principle, the drill provides an effective channel for the two countries to establish military liaisons, thereby conducive to the development of a new type of great power relationship with the US.

The Pacific Ocean in the future will be an arena for multilateral competition and cooperation. Nonetheless, Asian security must be ensured by Asian nations and we must refrain from binding China's security to the US wagon. Regional cooperative mechanisms and strategic mutual trust can play a vital role in this connection.

The article was compiled by Global Times reporter Wang Xiaonan based on an interview with Wang Yiwei, Director of the Institute of International Affairs, Renmin University of China. wangxiaonan@globaltimes.com.cn