RIMPAC 2004 - Navy exercises

Just a few links to try to make some sense of the recent navy activity: which is still being debated in different threads:

www.cpf.navy.mil...
"Six Pacific Rim nations along with the United Kingdom are participating in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2004, a major maritime exercise being conducted in the waters off Hawaii from June 29 through July 27, 2004. RIMPAC 2004 brings together maritime forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States."

www.defence.gov.au...
"Australia is one of eight nations participating in the region's largest multi-national maritime exercise "Rim of the Pacific" (RIMPAC), which brings together maritime forces from seven Pacific Rim nations, Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, Republic of Korea, United States and the United Kingdom."

edition.cnn.com...
"QINGDAO, China (Reuters) -- Britain and China have conducted their first ever joint naval exercises off China's coast on Sunday."

I make no suggestion as to purpose - but it looks like it's 'just' exercises - (albeit with different emphasis now maybe, because of the potential terrorist 'opportunity' offered by shipping).