Australia is set to embrace an announcement from Japan that it means to take a more muscular security role in Asia – a move that is likely to put further strain on Tokyo's already brittle relations with Beijing.

Late on Friday night Australian time, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was reportedly set to deliver the keynote speech at the important Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore, pushing his nation as part of a counterweight to China along with ally the United States and partners in the region.

Shinzo Abe is expected to make a speech outlining Japan's more muscular role in security in Asia. Credit:Getty Images

Defence Minister David Johnston is due to speak on Saturday at the dialogue. According to speech notes, Senator Johnston will say that Australia "welcomes Japan's efforts to re-examine its security and defence policies so that it can make a greater contribution to regional peace and security".

While Mr Abe has for some time signalled an intention to move beyond Japan's post-war pacifist security policy, his Singapore speech will underscore the sense that a coalition of countries is gathering around a shared concern about China's growing assertiveness.