1
Asian Attitudes and the United States
Bruce Stokes, National Journal & Pew Global Attitudes Project
U.S. Asia Pacific Council April 11, 2008
2
Over 45,000 interviews including…
Countries in brown were disproportionately urban samples.
Pakistan 2,008
Bangladesh 1,000
Indonesia 1,008
Malaysia 700
China 3,142
India 2,043
Japan 762
South Korea 718
3
U.S. Favorability RatingsAfrica
LatinAmerica
EastEurope Asia
WestEurope
MiddleEast
74
5548
44 43
21
Median
4
How Asian Publics View the U.S.
Percent favorable 2000* 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
% % % % % % %
Pakistan 23 10 13 21 23 27 15
Bangladesh -- 45 -- -- -- -- 53
Indonesia 75 61 15 -- 38 30 29
Malaysia -- -- -- -- -- -- 27
China -- -- -- -- 42 47 34
India -- 66 -- -- 71 56 59
Japan 77 72 -- -- -- 63 61
S. Korea 58 52 46 -- -- -- 58
* 2000 trends provided by the Office of Research, U.S. Department of State. Some data from 1999.
5
How Asian Publics View Americans
Percent favorable2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
2007 % % % % % %
Pakistan 17 38 25 22 27 19 Bangladesh -- -- -- -- 48 51Indonesia 65 56 -- 46 36 42Malaysia -- -- -- -- -- 40China -- -- -- 43 50 40India 72 -- -- 70 67 58Japan 73 -- -- -- 82 75S. Korea 60 74 -- -- 70 --
6
How Asian Publics See George Bush
Percent favorable2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 % % % % %
Pakistan 5 21 10 9 7Bangladesh -- -- -- -- 29Indonesia 8 -- 19 20 14Malaysia -- -- -- -- 27China -- -- -- 34 31India -- -- 54 56 50Japan -- -- -- 32 35S. Korea 36 -- -- -- 22
7
How Asian Young People View U.S.
Percent favorable18-29 30-49 50+ % % %
Pakistan 16 16 13Bangladesh 58 51 49Indonesia 35 26 26Malaysia 29 26 25China 43 35 30India 65 56 56Japan 59 60 62S. Korea 57 57 61
8
Its Hollywood!
Percent favorable for U.S. music, movies and TV18-29 30-49 50+ % % %
Pakistan 4 4 2Bangladesh 19 12 7Indonesia 63 49 29Malaysia 73 51 33China 56 45 29India 28 21 18Japan 81 78 59S. Korea 65 52 27
9
Views of American Exports
Admire U.S.science &technology
%
Western Europe 72
Eastern Europe 57
Latin America 71
Asia 81
Middle East 69
Africa 88
Like U.S.music, TV& movies
%
66
55
53
46
41
59
Good thatU.S. ideas &customs are
spreading here%
20
22
23
27
12
45
Regional medians.
10
Views of U.S. Democracy, Business Admire U.S.
ideas about
democracy
%
Pakistan 6
Bangladesh 37
Indonesia 28
Malaysia 29
China 48
India 41
Japan 57
South Korea 59
Admire U.S. ways of doing
business
%
16
46
42
53
49
51
40
61
11
Views of U.S. Ideas and Customs
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Indonesia
Malaysia
China
India
Japan
South Korea
Good U.S. customs, ideas here
%
4
25
11
16
38
29
42
38
12
Perceptions of U.S. Unilateralism
69
45
35
24
21
21
16
24
42
46
58
68
54
69
79
44
India
Indonesia
China
J apan
Bangladesh
Pakistan
Malaysia
South Korea
Great deal/ Fair amount
Not much/ Not at all
13
Allies and Threats
Closest Biggest
ally % threat %
Pakistan S. Arabia 60 U.S. 64
Bangladesh India 54 U.S. 72
Indonesia Japan 41 U.S. 63
Malaysia China 39 U.S. 46
China Russia 46 U.S. 66
India U.S. 46 Pakistan 75
Japan U.S. 74 N. Korea 66
S. Korea U.S. 75 Japan 70
% naming as one of the top three allies/threats.
14
Views of U.S. PoliciesOppose U.S. Remove troops from…
war on terror Iraq Afghanistan% % %
Pakistan 59 76 75
Bangladesh 68 92 89
Indonesia 56 84 80
Malaysia 68 76 74
China 55 81 80
India 42 56 49
Japan 47 60 47
S. Korea 86 66 60