RIMPAC 18 exercises underway and the PRC, formerly invited to partake, not welcome.
Friends, Firsts, and the Future at RimPac 2018 | U.S. Naval Institute
While several maritime powers of the Asia–Pacific region are participating, such as India and Japan, another maritime power is notably absent: The People’s Republic of China (PRC). Like RimPac 2014 and 2016, the United States initially invited the PRC to participate in the exercise. The United States disinvited the PRC in May of this year, however, “due to the nation’s continued militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea,” according to Pentagon officials. China’s absence is a loss of opportunity on their part, but it is a strong signal that participation in RimPac requires adherence to international norms.
Friends, Firsts, and the Future at RimPac 2018 | U.S. Naval Institute
While several maritime powers of the Asia–Pacific region are participating, such as India and Japan, another maritime power is notably absent: The People’s Republic of China (PRC). Like RimPac 2014 and 2016, the United States initially invited the PRC to participate in the exercise. The United States disinvited the PRC in May of this year, however, “due to the nation’s continued militarization of artificial islands in the South China Sea,” according to Pentagon officials. China’s absence is a loss of opportunity on their part, but it is a strong signal that participation in RimPac requires adherence to international norms.
