Tokyo - Taro Aso, who is likely to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, said Friday that Japan was destined to flourish together with China and South Korea although he also foresaw continuing bumpy relations with the countries Japan occupied before and during World War II.

"There will be problems between Japan and those two nations," Aso said at a press conference. "No need to be flustered, though, because Japan, China and South Korea 
- the three nations are destined to prosper together."

Aso, who serves as secretary general of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is seen as the front-runner in Monday's LDP presidential election after Fukuda announced his resignation September 1.

Aso said Japan with its experience in introducing democracy, advancing the national economy and becoming an innovator should guide other nations like China.

"China has come to say they want to learn from those experiences," the 67-year-old said. "A country that's advanced in solving a problem -that's what Japan is all about."

The reason China is seen as a threat is because of double-digit growth in its military spending over the past 20 years and a lack of transparency, Aso said.

"Other than that, though, the relationship with China is going relatively well," he said.

Aso confirmed his oft-used moniker of political hawk but said it means "someone who is determined to willingly sacrifice his life to defend the real peace and stability for the national interest of Japan."

The veteran politician is competing against four other candidates for the top party post: former defence ministers Yuriko Koike and Shigeru Ishiba, Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Kaoru Yosano and former LDP policy chief Nobuteru Ishihara.

Whoever is selected to lead the party was assured of becoming the nation's prime minister in a subsequent vote in the Diet because the ruling party controls the more powerful lower chamber and can override upper house decisions.

The five candidates are vying for a majority of 528 ballots - 387 ballots from LDP Diet members and 141 from prefecture representatives. If no candidate wins an absolute majority, a runoff election would be held between the top two candidates. (dpa)