The biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise that begins at the end of June will boast participation from 27 nations and 25,000 service members, 45 ships, five submarines and more than 200 aircraft, Defense Department Press Operations Director Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told Pentagon reporters today.

Known as RIMPAC, the exercise is slated to operate June 30 through Aug. 4 in and around Hawaiian waters and Southern California, Davis said.

25th Exercise in 45 Years

In its 25th iteration this year since its 1971 inception, RIMPAC is the world’s largest international maritime exercise, Davis said, adding that it “provides a training exercise opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative relations that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security of the world’s oceans.”

China is one of the 27 nations participating in this year’s exercise, Davis said.

“Chinese participation in RIMPAC will be in compliance with U.S. legislation and regulations,” he said. “The U.S. Navy has operational security safeguards to protect U.S. technology and [U.S.] tactics, techniques and procedures from disclosure. That’s the case for all nations that participate in RIMPAC.”