There is widespread fear across Asia that countries' territorial disputes with China will lead to war, a global survey has found, highlighting the delicate task Australia faces in managing its regional relationships.
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The survey of 48,600 people in 44 countries by the US think tank the Pew Research Centre also found that while there was disapproval of US policies such as electronic surveillance and the use of armed drones, this had not done lasting damage to American standing.
The poll found that an extraordinary 93 per cent of Filipinos, 85 per cent of Japanese, 84 per cent of Vietnamese and 83 per cent of South Koreans were worried ''that China's territorial ambitions could lead to military conflict with its neighbours''.
Beijing is locked in territorial disputes to varying degrees with all of these countries. The fear lies further across the region, with majorities of people in eight out of 11 Asian countries surveyed sharing the concern about the prospects of conflict.
''There is widespread concern among publics in east, south-east and south Asia that these frictions could lead to military conflict,'' the report states.
The finding underscores the challenges Australia faces in dealing with the region, coming a week after the Abbott government strengthened its relationship with Japan while also issuing an unusually direct vow to stand up to China for liberal values and the rule of law.
China has been widely criticised for provocative behaviour in its territorial disputes with Japan in the East China Sea, and Vietnam and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Australia takes no position on the territorial disputes but has repeatedly urged Beijing to resolve the differences through international law, rather than intimidation and coercion.
The Pew report also finds that countries that feel threatened by China are looking to the United States as their best bet for help. Some 83 per cent of Filipinos, 68 per cent of South Koreans and 62 per cent of Japanese ''pick Uncle Sam as their number one international partner''.
Even Vietnam, against which the US fought a prolonged war in the 1960s and 1970s, is increasingly looking to the US, with 30 per cent of people seeing it as the best ally - more than any other country.
Indeed, about two-thirds of people worldwide look favourably on the US. The glaring exception is in the Middle East, where just 30 per cent of people like Uncle Sam.
