BEIJING, Jul 9 (AP) -- Increased openness about China's military will prevent "misunderstandings and instability," Australia's defense minister said Monday, while stressing a U.S.-Japan missile defense system in Asia is not designed to contain Beijing's growing global influence.

Brendan Nelson said there was an increase in details about China's military, the world's largest standing army, though many countries have called for Beijing to show greater transparency about its military aims.

"Australia particularly welcomes the growing level of detail in Chinese defense white papers as an example of the sort of openness that should serve to prevent misunderstandings and instability in the region as Chinese capabilities develop," Nelson said in a speech at Beijing's National Defense University.

Earlier this year, China announced a 17.8 percent annual rise in defense spending to about US$45 billion (€33.1 billion), but experts believe actual Chinese defense spending may be much higher.

Nelson downplayed reports in the Australian media that the country's possible cooperation on a joint U.S.-Japan missile defense system in Asia was a way to limit China's rise.

"Let me assure you that nothing could be further from the truth," Nelson said according to a copy of the speech. "Australia supports the development of ballistic missile defense ... as a defensive measure specifically for rogue states and other actors in the region."

Australia, a steadfast U.S. ally that has about 2,000 troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, is studying whether to participate in the defense shield, partly as a bulwark against regional threats such as a nuclear-armed North Korea.

Beijing has worked carefully over the past decade to play down security concerns among Asian neighbors over China's growing strength. But it has persisted in boosting military spending, chiefly to acquire capabilities to intimidate Taiwan -- which broke off from China in a civil war -- and ward off any U.S. intervention should a conflict arise.