The top U.S. Naval commander in the Pacific fleet rejected the notion that military conflict was inevitable between the U.S. and China.

Admiral Samuel Locklear III, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM) said he didn't buy into the old-school contention that a rising power and status quo power inevitably clash.

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Speaking at Stanford's Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center for The Future of the Asian Pacific conference, Locklear, 60, said "Historians will say this will lead to conflict. I don't believe it has to."

Acknowledging the two nations were mutually skeptical of each other, Locklear said the countries were generally being collaborative in the Pacific region.

While the threat of a direct military confrontation was low, Shorenstein said China's view the U.S. as actively trying to contain Chinese power is a potential problem. He said both nations should work together to build working economic and security frameworks in the region.

China had benefitted from the U.S.-led security structure in place in the South China Sea, Locklear continued, adding that economic exchanges between China and the U.S. made it essential for both nations to work together to achieve solutions.

Locklear emphasized how important his command coverage area was with nine of the 10 largest ports in the world and 70 percent of world trade passing through Pacific Ocean to the Indian subcontinent. He noted how the U.S. Asian reset under President Obama resulted from the geopolitical and economic importance of the region.

Before assuming Pacific command, Locklear commanded U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and was NATO Allied Joint Force Commander. The conference was co-sponsored by the Freeman Spogli Institute for international Studies and Center for International Security and Cooperation.

TagsSamuel Locklear, stanford, East Asia, U.S. Pacific Command, Military, US-China relations