HONOLULU: The US intends to ask China to send a ship to join the world's largest maritime exercises for the first time in Hawaiian waters in two years.    

The Navy will invite the Asian nation to send a ship to the 2014 Rim of the Pacific exercises, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday. China sent military observers to watch the drills in 1998 but has never sent a vessel.

Panetta said he discussed ways to extend cooperation between the two militaries during a meeting with China's national defence minister, Gen Liang Guanglie.

The defence secretary noted that China and the US participated this week in an exercise to counter pirates in the Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen.—AP

Opinion

The Dar story continues

The Dar story continues

One wonders what the rationale was for the foreign minister — a highly demanding, full-time job — being assigned various other political responsibilities.

Editorial

Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.
All this talk
Updated 30 Apr, 2024

All this talk

The other parties are equally legitimate stakeholders in the country’s political future, and it must give them due consideration.
Monetary policy
30 Apr, 2024

Monetary policy

ALIGNING its decision with the trend in developed economies, the State Bank has acted wisely by holding its key...
Meaningless appointment
30 Apr, 2024

Meaningless appointment

THE PML-N’s policy of ‘family first’ has once again triggered criticism. The party’s latest move in this...