Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: September 4, 2015
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Over-50-in-Asia-Pacific-see-India-in-positive-light/articleshow/48795872.cms

Over half of the people in Asia-Pacific countries (51%) hold favourable views of India, although only about 39% 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% approval rating. A median of 57% voice a favourable opinion of China. Roughly half (51%) see India in a positive light. And 47% 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%), Vietnamese (82%), Filipinos (81%) and Australians (80%) express a favorable opinion of Japan.

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

 About the region's leaders surveyed, 39% believed Modi could be counted on to lead the region, as opposed to 47% 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% have confidence in Chinese President Xi Jinping to do the right thing regarding world affairs. And a median of 43% 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%) have a favourable view of the world's second-most-populous and fastest-growing large economy, as do 67% of young Japanese. This compares with 77% of young Americans who see India favorably. The respondents most critical of India are older Pakistanis (80% unfavourable)."