Interpac Business and Migration Solutions Melbourne Australia

(May 31, 2010)

AUSTRALIANS are ambivalent about China, increasingly recognising the importance of its growth for us, but also becoming more worried about too much Chinese investment, according to the Lowy poll.

Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed agreed that China's growth has been good for Australia, up 10 points since 2008. But 69 per cent agreed that China's aim was to dominate Asia, a rise of nine points in two years.

The number of people saying the government is allowing too much Chinese investment has risen from 50 per cent last year to 57 per cent. People are also concerned about Chinese military power: 46 per cent said China was likely to become a military threat to Australia in the next 20 years, a rise of five points since last year. However, more than half said this was unlikely.

Older people are more likely than younger to believe the government is allowing too much Chinese investment. People are concerned about China's human rights record, with two-thirds disagreeing with the statement that ''Australia is doing enough to pressure China to improve human rights.''

In general, women are more wary of China than are men.

46 percent said relations with China had improved since the Rudd government was elected, while more than a third said relations with Indonesia improved in that time.

People were warmer in their feelings about Indonesia than in any other year of the poll. But Australians remain suspicious of Indonesia, with a third believing it is more of a threat to Australia than it was 15 years ago and 38 per cent saying there had been no change in the threat. Only 27 per cent said the threat from Indonesia had lessened.

Support for the US alliance remains high. But almost three-quarters believe Australia's relationship with India has been damaged following the attacks on Indian students.

(Source from:theage.com)