News Compass

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

National Poll: Australians rank CHINA, FRANCE and JAPAN Ahead of US

Read here full article by Rodney Dalton and Patrick Walters

29 March 2005

According to the latest national poll conducted by the Lowy Institute, only 58 per cent of Australians have "positive feelings" towards the world's superpower, with more than two-thirds complaining that the US holds too much sway over Australian foreign policy.

The US ranked BELOW China, France and Japan in the public's estimation.

China scored 69 percent.

Australians rated the US above only Indonesia and the so-called axis of evil member Iran and its war-torn neighbour Iraq.

On the "feel positive' responses of Australians, the Lowy Institute poll found that:

94 per cent of Australians feel positive toward New Zealand,

Japan (84 per cent),

China (69 per cent)

France (66 per cent).

US (59 percent)

Indonesia (52 percent)

Australians' estimation of other countries:

the United Kingdom (86 percent),

Japan (84 percent),

Singapore (83 percent)

The national poll also found that Australians:

Almost 70 per cent think that Canberra is too heavily influenced by US foreign policy

72 per cent of Australians would oppose Australia joining a US-led war with China over the independence of Taiwan.

Only 35 percent are worried about China's rising power

32 per cent of respondents said they were "very worried" about US foreign policies.

However, 61 per cent said they still regarded Australian alliance with the US as "very important" to Australia's security.

36 per cent said they were very worried about Islamic fundamentalism.

Only 34 per cent thought the US free trade agreement was good for Australia.

51 per cent thought a free trade agreement with China,would be good for Australia.

On other issues: Highest ranked concerns of Australians were:

51 per cent concerned about unfriendly countries developing nuclear weapons

46 per cent concerned on global warming.

Read here commentary by Raymond Bonner and Donald Greenlees in the International Herald Tribune

Excepts from the commentary:

Australia is one of Washington's closest allies in the Asia-Pacific region.The 53-year-old U.S.-Australia alliance, or Anzus, is one of Washington's strategic anchors in the Pacific.

The results of the comprehensive survey of opinion in a country surprised foreign policy analysts in Australia and underscore the problems facing the Bush administration as it tries to improve the international image of the United States.

The survey, the most comprehensive ever conducted on public opinion in Australia on international relations, shows that America trails far behind China and Japan in public popularity.

Australia is a predominantly Christian, Anglo-Saxon country. It has a lot of cultural affinities with the United States.

Analysts say the historically close relationship, which has seen Australians alongside American soldiers in Korea, Vietnam and the two Gulf wars, has become a harder sell during the Bush Presidency.

The poll results are a surprise to many because the American-Australian relationship has long been considered special by political leaders, liberal and conservative, in both countries.

"There is quite a big disconnect between how the world views Bush and how the Americans view Bush," says Don Russell, Australia's ambassador to Washington between 1993 and 1995.

Although 84 percent of Australians had positive views of Japan and 69 percent expressed positive views of China, only 58 percent felt the same way about the United States.

The results of the Australian survey suggest that the problem facing the new under secretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs goes well beyond the Middle East. Even close allies might need some attention

The findings of the opinion poll suggest that one of the main reasons for the lack of popularity of America in Australia is the perceived influence that Washington exercises over Australian foreign policy.

The poll found that more than two-thirds of respondents felt "we take too much notice of the views of the United States."

The conflict in Iraq might also be contributing to perceptions that U.S. foreign policy is a potential threat:
57 percent of Australians rated U.S. policy as a threat equal to Islamic fundamentalism.