Philippines urges China to be 'responsible'

The Philippines called on China Monday to use its growing military influence to promote peace and stability in the region where Beijing has overlapping territorial claims with its smaller neighbours.

The call came a day after Beijing said its military spending would top ê100 billion in 2012 -- a double-digit increase on last year, a move that Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said was within China's "sovereign right."

"With an expanded economy and military, we are relying on China, however, to fully utilise their vast global influence in the most responsible way in terms of promoting peace, prosperity and stability in our region," he said in a statement.

The Philippines, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan are locked in a bitter maritime row with China over the potentially oil-rich Spratly islands in the South China Sea.

The overlapping claims have been a perennial source of tension in the region, with the Philippines and Vietnam last year accusing Beijing of being increasingly aggressive in the area.