Over 50% in Asia-Pacific see India in positive light: Survey

NEW DELHI: Over half of the people in Asia-Pacific countries (51 per cent) hold favourable views of India, although only about 39 per cent have expressed faith that Narendra Modi can be counted on to "do the right thing" in international affairs.

In a new survey by the Pew Research Center of 15,313 people in 10 Asia-Pacific nations and the US, it appears that overall, people in Asia-Pacific region tend to have largely favourable opinions of their leaders, even regional leaders.

Japan was viewed most "favourably", with an almost 71 per cent approval rating. A median of 57 per cent voice a favourable opinion of China. Roughly half (51 per cent) see India in a positive light. And 47 per cent give South Korea a thumbs-up. Japan enjoys a relatively positive image everywhere except in China and South Korea. Eight-in-ten or more Malaysians (84 per cent), Vietnamese (82 per cent), Filipinos (81 per cent) and Australians (80 per cent) express a favorable opinion of Japan.

The survey said, roughly half of those surveyed have a favourable view of India (median of 51 per cent not including Indians). This includes more than six-in-ten Vietnamese (66 per cent), South Koreans (64 per cent) and Japanese (63 per cent). But only 24 per cent of Chinese and 16 per cent of Pakistanis see India in a positive light. The most upbeat about India are the Vietnamese, but even there only 22 per cent say they feel very favourably toward India. The most intense anti-India views are in Pakistan, unsurprisingly. In Pakistan, 56 per cent see India very unfavorably. In comparison, 63 per cent of Americans hold a favorable opinion of India.



About the region's leaders surveyed, 39 per cent believed Modi could be counted on to lead the region, as opposed to 47 per cent for Xi Jinping. The survey attributes this to a lower public profile of Modi's in this region, which is contrary to the Indian view in some quarters, which believes Modi travels far too much. "A median of 47 per cent have confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping to do the right thing regarding world affairs. And a median of 43 per cent have confidence in Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's handling of international issues."

Interestingly, the study says, the "younger generation of Asians is quite enamored with India. About seven-in-ten Vietnamese aged 18 to 29 (72 per cent) have a favourable view of the world's second-most-populous and fastest-growing large economy, as do 67 per cent of young Japanese. This compares with 77 per cent of young Americans who see India favorably. The respondents most critical of India are older Pakistanis (80 per cent unfavourable)."