In a rare move that analysts say could ease soaring tensions between Washington and Beijing, five warships from China's navy have taken part in training exercises with U.S. vessels while en route from the western Pacific to Hawaii for the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise scheduled to kick off Thursday.

But while Chinese state media played up the so-called group sail, which saw ships from the two navies meet in the waters last week, the U.S. side had been mum despite the event being planned well in advance.

"This is all part of the previously planned lead-up to RIMPAC," U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Matt Knight said in an email to The Japan Times on Wednesday. "Currently there are multiple group sails occurring that allow the participants a chance to operate together prior to RIMPAC formally starting."