Philippine Foreign Min sees Japan as balance to China - FT

Dec 10 (Reuters) - The Philippines sees Japan as a potential counterbalance to the rise of China, its foreign minister told a newspaper, as smaller Asian nations worry about Beijing's military might and ambitions as tensions grow over conflicting territorial claims.

"We would welcome that very much," Albert del Rosario told the Financial Times an interview published early on Monday. The paper said he was responding to a question about whether Manila would support a rearmed Japan.

"We are looking for balancing factors in the region and Japan could be a significant balancing factor."

The Philippines and China have conflicting claims to territory in the South China Sea. Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and Malaysia also have claims to parts of the sea.

Del Rosario's comments come ahead of a Dec. 16 election in Japan that is expected to be won by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). LDP leader Shinzo Abe has promised to loosen limits on the military in Japan's pacifist constitution and stand up to China over disputed isles in the East China Sea.