China's influence on Asia-Pacific trumps U.S.' in Australian survey

Most Australians believe China has more influence than the United States in the Asia-Pacific, a survey released on Thursday revealed.

The survey conducted by the United States Studies Center at the University of Sydney found that Australians overwhelmingly believe that China is the most important country in the Asia-Pacific, and will continue to be for the next 10 years.

United States Studies Center chief executive Simon Jackman said the results show Australians have accepted that a bipolar era has arrived in the Asia-Pacific.

"The Australian public has reached a point that analysts have been predicting would come for decades, that China is the most dominant country in the Asia-Pacific," Jackman said.

"Australians want closer ties with both the United States and China, but are more enthusiastic about strengthening the China relationship."

Around 69 percent of Australians surveyed believed China had the most influence in the Asia-Pacific region, while in contrast only 11 percent thought the U.S. would be the most powerful nation in Asia in 10 years' time.

Only 12 percent of Australians believe conflict between the United States and China is likely.

"Australians sense competitive tension in the U.S.-China relationship but attach little probability to that tension generating a militarised conflict," Jackman said.

"Australia's relative distance from China, coupled with the fact that China is Australia's largest trading partner, may explain why Australians are less concerned by China's rise or by tensions in the relationship with the United States." Endit