The Wall Street Journal and other US news organizations, citing a report on the Chinese Defence Ministry website, said Admiral Wu Shengli made the offer to his US counterpart, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, in a video conference.
"We welcome international organizations, the US and relevant countries to use these facilities, when conditions are ripe, to conduct cooperation on humanitarian rescue and disaster relief," the Chinese admiral was quoted as saying.
State Department acting deputy spokesman Jeff Rathke said Washington was not interested.
"Building facilities on reclaimed land in disputed areas will not contribute to peace and stability in the region," Rathke told reporters.
"This is true even if, as some Chinese officials have stated, the facilities in question were used for civilian disaster response purposes."
He added: "If there is a desire to reduce tensions, China could actively reduce them by taking concrete steps to halt land reclamation."
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