71% of 10 Asian Nations Favor Japan

The US research agent Pew Research Center's survey shows 71 % of 10 nations in the Asia-Pacific region view Japan favorably over China, South Korea and India.

The survey was conducted in April 6-May 27 this year of 15,313 of 10 nations in the Asia-Pacific region. A median of 71% view Japan favorably with positive views exceeding negative opinion by over 5 to 1, China 57%, India 51%, South Korea 47% in that order.

Publics in the region view each other favorably. Japan enjoyed a positive image, except in China and South Korea due to deeper historical antagonisms, 8 in 10 or more Malaysians (84%), Vietnamese (82%), Filipinos (81%) and Australians (80%) express a favorable view of Japan. Seven out of 10 Indonesians agree. The tendency remains unchanged since 2014. Notably, over one third of Indian and Pakistani publics express no opinion of Japan.

Broken down by generation, there is a conspicuous gap in view of Japan. Respondents of ages 18-29 are more favorably inclined toward Japan than ages above 50. Those with the most positive view of Japan are young Vietnamese 59% of whom are very favorable. Older Chinese were the most anti-Japan (55% very unfavorable).

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe finds his strong support, not including Japan, in Malaysia where 73% back him up, just as many in Vietnam and the Philippines (68% each). But Abe has his biggest supporters are in Vietnam.  78% of men and 77% of women of ages 18-19 there express confidence in him. But, as well expected, Abe is least popular in China (18%) and South Korea (7%), 63% of the latter expressing no confidence.

The survey points out in closing striking gender gaps in Australia on views of major Asia-Pacific countries and leaders. Men are far more likely than women to express favorable views of their neighbors.