Fox News:

BEIJING – China’s Defense Ministry said Thursday it is consulting with the U.S. over again participating in large-scale multinational military exercises being held this summer.

Spokesman Wu Qian told reporters at a monthly briefing that China had already been formally invited to take part in the Pacific Rim drills hosted by the U.S. Navy.

“We are now discussing details with the U.S. side on arrangements for China’s participation,” Wu said.

China has joined in the exercises twice before, despite frequently complaining about U.S. Navy activity in the South China Sea, which China claims as its territory.

The U.S. for its part routinely questions the objectives of China’s massive military buildup and has criticized Beijing for carrying out extensive land reclamation work on many of the islands and reefs it claims, equipping some with air strips and military installations.