Despite repeated calls of US congressmen to disinvite China from the upcoming US-led multinational naval exercise in the Pacific, US defense secretary Ashton Carter said Beijing will attend the international event.

"We have not taken the step of disinviting them," Carter told reporters on Friday during a visit to the US aircraft carrier USS John Stennis.

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Carter said the invitation for China to join the bi-annual Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise still stands amid growing tensions between the two countries over the South China Sea territorial issues.

RIMPAC

The RIMPAC, the largest multinational naval exercise led by the US, will be conducted off Hawaii in June and July.

The defense secretary defended the decision to invite China to this year's exercise saying despite the US' strong military ties with its allies, it was still open to the approach that all nations should cooperate and work together to maintain peace in the Pacific.

US lawmakers had expressed strong opposition to China's inclusion in the RIMPAC naval exercise.

US congressmen have castigated China over its aggressive actions in its territorial claims in the South China Sea and have called on the defense department not to include China in the exercises.

Proactive

China took part in the US-led RIMPAC for the first time in 2014. The maritime event involved more than 23 countries, 50 ships, six submarines and over 26,000 troops.

Speaking on Friday, Carter urged China to stop "isolating and excluding" itself and instead to be proactive by joining other cooperative nations that have made possible the "miracle that is Asia."

Carter was in the Philippines recently where the US and Philippine troops took part in an annual military war games dubbed " 2016 Balikatan Exercise."

Observers said Carter's visit to the Philippines showed Washington's continued commitment to make its presence felt in the region and uphold the governing rules and laws in the disputed waters of the South China Sea despite China's protest.

US commitment

Carter said the US has reiterated its commitment to stand with the Philippines and other allies against "coercion and intimidation."

China is laying claim to a large portion of the disputed South China Sea. Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei. Taiwan, and Malaysia have overlapping claims in the area.

Around $5 trillion worth of ship-borne trade passes through the disputed waters yearly.

TagsRim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), china, largest naval exercise, Pacific, South China Sea, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter