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By our reporter
Melbourne: Who is Australia’s best friend in Asia? The just released Lowy Institute poll 2014 has some interesting facts on the question. Fieldwork for the Poll was conducted between 12 and 27 February 2014 and key results on many issues are available on its website.
A glance at the report reveals the Australian public gives China as much of a claim to that title as Japan. Asked to choose between Japan, China, Indonesia, India, Singapore or South Korea, 31% of Australians say that China, Australia’s largest trading partner, is ‘Australia’s best friend in Asia’. Twenty-eight per cent choose Japan as Australia’s best friend in Asia, a statistically equivalent result. Next comes Singapore, with 12% seeing it as our best friend in Asia. Indonesia, our largest near neighbour, comes fourth (9%), followed by India (5%) and South Korea (5%).
“Australians hold mixed views on China. This year’s ‘thermometer’ recorded Australians’ warmth towards China at 60°, its equal highest score in our history of tracking, reinforcing our finding that many see China as Australia’s best friend in Asia. However, not all aspects of the relationship with China are regarded so warmly,” says the report.
Two issues that concern Australians, according to the report, are China’s military threat with half the Australian population believing China will become a military threat to Australia in the next 20 years and Australians have expressed a wariness of Chinese investment in Australia. In 2014, a majority (56%) considers that the Australian Government is allowing too much investment from China, compared with a much smaller 34% who say the amount of Chinese investment is about right. Only 4% say the government is not allowing enough investment from China.
– SAT News Service.
