Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen greets Chinese officials upon his arrival to Beijing late Saturday July 9, 2011.

U.S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaks near a Chinese national flag at the Renmin University in Beijing Sunday, July 10, 2011. The top U.S. military officer began a visit to Beijing aimed at improving chilly military relations with an appeal Sunday for a peaceful settlement amid tensions in the disputed South China Sea.

BEIJING, CHIINA - JULY 11: Adm. Mike Mullen, left, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, shakes hands with Gen. Chen Bingde, right, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, before their meeting at the Bayi Building on July 11, 2011 in Beijing, China. Mullen is on a four day visit to China to discuss disputes China is having with the Philippines and Vietnam over the South China Sea, and the stalled nuclear talks with North Korea.

BEIJING, CHIINA - JULY 11: Adm. Mike Mullen, front left, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Chen Bingde, front right, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, salute during a welcoming ceremony for Mullen at the Bayi Building on July 11, 2011 in Beijing, China.

U.S. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reviews an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony for him at the Bayi Building inBeijing, China, Monday, July 11, 2011. The United States is spending too much on its military in light of its recent economic troubles, China's top general Chen said Monday while playing down his country's own military capabilities.