Article Posted on : - Jun 16, 2014

USS George Washington. A US Navy photo

ABOARD USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, HONG KONG (AFP): The US Navy Sunday welcomed four members of China's military aboard one of its aircraft carriers -- and said it hoped to receive a return invite someday.

The four People's Liberation Army members were among guests flown by a C-2 Greyhound aircraft to the USS George Washington for a "VIP visit" before it berths on Monday off Hong Kong on a routine call.

Tensions are high in the South China Sea and East China Sea as Beijing asserts its sovereignty over reefs and islands also claimed by US allies such as Japan and the Philippines.

But Rear Admiral Mark C Montgomery, commander of the task force headed by the carrier, said US-Chinese military relations have "moderately improved" in the past six months.

China last week confirmed it would take part for the first time in a major US-organised naval drill, the Rim of the Pacific multinational exercise, later this month.

In May China's military chief toured American warships in the United States despite the heightened tensions in Southeast Asia.

Hong Kong also has continued to host visits by US warships despite reverting to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

A general from the PLA's Hong Kong garrison was among those visiting the George Washington Sunday as it sailed 200 miles south of the city.

Montgomery said it might now be appropriate for Beijing to return the favour by offering a visit to its sole carrier, the Liaoning.

"I think that in an effort towards increased transparency in a broad bilateral partnership, I think a US visit would be appropriate," he told AFP and other media visiting the ship.

Guests were treated to a display of take-offs and landings by some of the carrier's F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter aircraft.

But Montgomery declined comment on the US decision to send another aircraft carrier to the Gulf as the situation in Iraq worsens.

And he called for a diplomatic solution to the territorial issues in the South China Sea.

"Principally the role of the United States Navy is to serve as a stabilising force and demonstrate US commitment to the region overall," he said.