China's dispatch of ships and planes to assert those claims has significantly raised regional tensions over the past year. Beijing is also at odds with Japan and India over territory, but has lately worked to reduce friction.

"The key is to strengthen management and effectively prevent and resolve crises," Chang told participants at the fifth Xiangshan Forum.

China raised the forum's profile this year by inviting international media and high-level guests. Beijing also is in the middle of a diplomatic push to expand its "soft power" overseas, hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering and sending President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiaing on high-profile visits abroad.

The moves are in part to assuage suspicions about China's fast-growing and traditionally secretive military, which is now adding nuclear-powered submarines, stealth fighters and aircraft carriers. The People's Liberation Army is already the world's largest standing military with 2.3 million members.

Chang said China's booming defense budgets are aimed at modernizing and better cooperating with other countries on natural disasters and terrorism.

The forum's more than 200 participants came from four dozen countries, ranging from Australia to Saudi Arabia.

Former PLA head of foreign affairs Qian Lihua said China is working to ease tensions with Japan, India, Vietnam and other countries.

"It will take time, but we're working toward building trust between all the countries in Asia," Qian said.