The Department of Defense has responded to Chinese requests, delivering critically needed relief supplies to the earthquake-stricken Sichuan province, the Pentagon said Sunday.

Senior Capt. Guan Youfei, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense and Army Brig. Gen. Charles W. Hooper, the U.S. military attache in Beijing, greeted the first of two U.S. aircrews delivering earthquake relief supplies to China.

The two C-17 Globemaster aircraft carried food, water containers, blankets, generators, lanterns and various hand tools, the Pentagon said.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates authorized Pacific Command to support earthquake relief efforts in the China. U.S.

More than 32,000 people are known dead from the 7.9 quake that hit May 12. About 250,000 are hurt, according to Chinese government releases. Thousands remain missing and are feared dead under the rubble.

U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster aircraft from Elemendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii are making the flights directly to the airport at Chengdu, the largest city in Sichuan, officials reported.

The People's Republic of China sent more than $5 million in aid to the United States following Hurricane Katrina in September 2005.

"The members of U.S. Pacific Command offer our sincere condolences to the citizens of the People's Republic of China who have been affected by this recent earthquake," said Adm. Timothy Keating, the command of the Pacific Command. "We will continue to provide any assistance we can to minimize their suffering and loss of life."

The Chinese relief missions are taking place at the same time as the Pacific Command is delivering desperately needed humanitarian aid to Burma following a deadly cyclone there.