Philippine President Benigno Aquino on Wednesday urged the international community to press China to freeze its land reclamation work in the South China Sea, likening Beijing's actions in the region to those of Nazi Germany in the run-up to World War II.

"If stability is a necessary prerequisite to prosperity for all, and if prosperity for all our peoples is the be-all and end-all of any government, then perhaps they should re-examine all of these efforts and see whether or not this is necessary given the increasing tensions that are happening because of these activities," Aquino said in a speech in Tokyo.

"America and Japan both talked about their concerns, and this voice is also seconded by the European Union and various other countries," the president said, referring to China's land reclamation in the region.