A stronger Japan would act as a counterbalance to the military rise of China, something that is worrying smaller Asian nations as tensions grow over conflicting territorial claims in the region, the Philippines said on Monday, Dec 10, according to Reuters.

Rivals claims to the South China Sea, and its likely oil and gas wealth, have made it Asia's biggest potential flashpoint. China claims the largest area, putting it at loggerheads in particular in recent months with Vietnam and the Philippines.

Other claimants are Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia.

"(We are looking for Japan) to support the peaceful process of resolving the issues here and to be one of the partners as far as security alliances and partnership is concerned," Foreign Ministry spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a statement.

He said no one country has the capacity to address the security requirements of the region, and it is in the Philippines' interest to have stronger alliances.

On Tuesday, the Philippines will hold strategic talks with the United States, its closest security ally, on ways to strengthen their alliance, including increasing rotational presence of U.S. forces in its former colony.

Carlos Sorreta, foreign ministry assistant secretary for American affairs, said the increased U.S. presence in Asia and Pacific region "sends the right signal that states must behave in a reasonable and lawful way".