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Australians rank China ahead of US

Australians would not want to follow the US into a war with Taiwan against China, a country that they feel more positive about than America, according to a poll published yesterday. And while Australians remain divided on the conflict in Iraq, two-thirds would still support pre-emptive strikes against other countries if they perceived a direct threat that was not being dealt with domestically.

The survey conducted by the independent think-tank the Lowy Institute for International Policy found 72 percent of respondents were opposed to supporting the US in any secessionist war between Taiwan and China.

Australia could be drawn into such a conflict thanks to the ANZUS (Australia New Zealand United States) Alliance under which Canberra would be expected to support Washington if China resorted to force over Taiwan.

However, the security alliance itself was highly regarded by Australians with 72 percent of the 1,000 interviewed saying they rated it as important.

On Iraq, where Prime Minister John Howard has deployed troops in support of the US-led invasion since the beginning of the conflict, respondents were split with 46 percent in favor of the war and 51 percent against.

The most surprising results were in relation to Australians' perceptions about traditional ally the US.

Only 58 percent of respondents said they had positive feelings about the country while 69 percent said they did about China. In addition, 68 percent said Canberra was led too strongly by Washington when it came to foreign policy.

Asked about 15 countries or regions, Australians rated New Zealand, Britain, Europe, Singapore and Japan as favorites "quite closely followed by China," the "Australians Speak 2005" survey noted.

"Of the countries and regions we asked about, the United States is more popular only than Indonesia, the Middle East, Iran and Iraq," it said.

Australians also rated Islamic fundamentalism as just as dangerous as US foreign policy.

Institute executive director Allan Gyngell said "there is no doubt that (US President) George Bush and his administration are having a harder time selling themselves to the rest of the world than some of their predecessors."

The survey also suggested that Australians had a "very relaxed view of China," he said.

"The reality is that if the crunch time came in Taiwan it would depend very heavily on whether it came because of an aggressive China movement ... that got the Australian people indignant or because of provocation on the Taiwan side of the Strait," he said.

"Australians see opportunity in China rather than being apprehensive about its growth," he said.

While 35 percent were worried about Beijing's rising power, 51 percent thought a free-trade deal with China would be good while only 34 percent thought the same about the free-trade pact with the US.
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