Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has won support for his plans to boost his country's military from the visiting leader of the Philippines, which suffered greatly under wartime occupation by the Japanese army.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino voiced his backing on Tuesday for Abe's push to reinterpret Japan's pacifist Constitution.

This would allow the Japanese military to defend not only Japan but also allies that come under attack or any country that Japan identifies as being vital to its self-defense.