The U.S. military needs better dialogue with China to avoid "mistakes and miscalculations" given an unprecedented military expansion stoking uncertainty in the region, top U.S. defense officials said Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, speaking days before he will receive a top Chinese military official in Washington, said Washington would "do what we can to expand our military-to-military relationship with China."

"It is in our long-term interest to develop a dialogue with the Chinese in which we share our views about our military purposes and provide greater transparency," Gates told reporters during a trip to South Korea.

"It's important that we have this kind of dialogue to prevent mistakes and miscalculations."