Admiral Mike Mullen said the US continued to be a Pacific power, and should work together with China.

The US angered Beijing recently by holding military exercises with the Philippines amid a dispute over territory in the East Sea.

The US has voiced concern over China's growing military strength.

Adm Mullen is in China for a four-day visit at the invitation of Chinese army chief Gen Chen Bingde.

The two held talks in Beijing on July 11, and Gen Chen said afterward that they had found "a lot of common ground", but differences remained on some issues.

He said the East Sea dispute was one of the topics they had discussed.

Before the meeting, Adm Mullen reaffirmed the US's commitment to maintaining its presence in the Pacific, including the East Sea.

He expressed concern about the growing row between China, the Philippines and Vietnam in the area, warning that misunderstandings could lead to "an outbreak that no-one anticipated".

In a speech to university students, he said: "The United States is deepening its commitment to this region and the alliances and partnerships that define our presence there.”