The arrival of the USS Blue Ridge is part of a growing series of routine exchanges between the two militaries but comes at a particularly sensitive period with growing political tensions in the region.

Six-way talks among the two Koreas, China, Japan, Russia and the United States begin in the Chinese capital Wednesday while Taiwan's presidential elections and a controversial referendum are set for March 20.

Some policy experts suggest that the US warship's presence is meant to project stability although American and Chinese officials insist that the Blue Ridge's four-day visit is politically unrelated.

The 19,290 ton ship made fast with 1,059 sailors aboard at the Yangtze River dock, near the city centre. It is scheduled to set sail for Hong Kong on Saturday.

The port call is seen as another step in a gradual warming of previously cool Sino-US military ties which hit a low point on April 1, 2001, after a Chinese fighter and a US Navy EP-3 surveillance plane collided over the South China Sea.

Relations were reforged after then Chinese president Jiang Zemin's visit to the United States in late 2002, and have continued to warm as the the two sides have sought cooperation in thwarting global terrrorism and North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Taiwan though remains a prickly issue.

Past Taiwanese elections have sparked tensions with China, which claims the island as part of its territory and has vowed to use force against the defacto nation state if it declares independence.

Under the Taiwan Relations Act, Washington has made clear it would help defend the island if it is attacked.

In the past China has used military displays to intimidate Taiwanese voters from supporting candidates who are disliked by the mainland leadership.

WAR.WIRE