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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CANBERRA 000998 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MARR SENV SCUL CH AS
SUBJECT: POLL: AUSTRALIANS MORE FAVORABLE TOWARD U.S., WARY 
OF CHINA 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: According to the 2008 annual poll by the Lowy 
Institute in Sydney, support among Australians for the United 
States has risen, while the public has become increasingly 
wary of China.  Support for Australia's security alliance 
with the United States has reached its highest level since 
the Lowy Poll began in 2005.   However, there is increasing 
opposition to Australia's military involvement in 
Afghanistan, and approximately two-thirds of those surveyed 
believe Australia takes too much notice of the United States 
in developing foreign policy.  Trust in China to act 
responsibly has declined.  A majority believe Australia 
should join with other nations to limit China's influence and 
a third believe the rise of China is a threat to Australia's 
vital interest.  Sixty-two percent of those polled said the 
Australian Government was not doing enough to pressure China 
to improve human rights.  This poll was taken in July, prior 
to the media focus on the financial crisis in the United 
States.  END SUMMARY. 
 
VIEWS TOWARD U.S. IMPROVE BUT SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN FALLS 
 
¶2. (U) The Lowy Institute has conducted an annual survey of 
Australian attitudes toward foreign policy and other 
countries since 2005.  In 2007, 60 percent of those surveyed 
had a favorable attitude toward the United States, below the 
UK at 75 percent, Singapore at 64 percent and Japan at 63 
percent.  China was at 56 percent.  This year, support for 
the U.S. has risen to 64 percent, equal to Japan and only 
slightly below Singapore.  China remains at 56 percent. 
Support for the ANZUS Alliance has bounced back from earlier 
declines.  This year, 76 percent believe it is fairly or very 
important for Australia's security.  It was 72 percent in 
2005; 70 percent in 2006, and 63 percent in 2007. 
 
¶3. (U) The United States is trusted "a great deal" by 24 
percent to act responsibly in the world - significantly ahead 
of China, Japan, Russia and India.  This is a five point 
improvement since 2006, the last time this question was 
asked.  However, 65 percent believe Australia takes too much 
notice of the United States in formulating its foreign policy 
- little change from previous years.  Fifty-six percent of 
those polled are against continuing Australian involvement in 
Afghanistan.  This has increased from 46 percent in 2007. 
 
NERVOUS ABOUT CHINA 
 
¶4. (U) While a majority say China's growth has been good for 
Australia, there is growing apprehension about its increasing 
influence in international affairs.  Thirty-four percent view 
China as a "critical threat" to Australia's vital interest - 
an increase of 9 points since 2006. Only 7 percent trust 
China "a great deal" to act responsibly in the world (no 
change), while 21 percent trust China "not at all" - an 
increase of 10 points.  Fifty-one percent believe Australia 
should join with other countries to limit China's influence. 
Sixty-four percent believe Australia's interests would be 
harmed if China's influence increased and 60 percent believe 
China's aim is to dominate Asia.  Sixty-two percent of those 
surveyed believe Australia is not doing enough to pressure 
China on human rights. 
 
CLIMATE CHANGE BIG ISSUE AND SO IS WHALING AND 
NONPROLIFERATION 
 
¶5. (U) When asked what were the greatest threats facing 
Australia, the survey's respondents listed the increasing 
QAustralia, the survey's respondents listed the increasing 
scarcity of water (83 percent), global warming (66), and 
international terrorism (66).  Fifty-eight percent of those 
surveyed thought Australia should do more to pressure Japan 
to stop all whaling, even at the risk of losing valuable 
trade deals.  A huge number, 88 percent, agreed Australia 
should not export uranium to countries that have not signed 
the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. 
 
CHANGE OF GOVERNMENTS A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR? 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: Since the 2007 poll, the major event in 
Australia has been a change of government from the 
conservative John Howard administration to the government of 
Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd.  The Rudd Government has also 
withdrawn Australian combat troops from their unpopular 
deployment to Iraq and signed the Kyoto Protocol.  The 
popular Rudd is a strong supporter of the United States, but 
his government is perceived by many Australians as being more 
 
CANBERRA 00000998  002 OF 002 
 
 
independent in its foreign policy.  The uptick in support for 
the U.S. may also be related to the growing anxiety about the 
rise of China.  There is also intense interest here in the 
upcoming U.S. elections and this may have also affected the 
poll figures regarding the United States.  The survey was 
conducted prior to widespread coverage of the U.S. financial 
crisis. 
 
MCCALLUM