Indians Sceptical Of China's Policy towards Asia, India: Poll

Melbourne: As Chinese Premier Li Keqiang arrived to a red carpet welcome in New Delhi, a new poll released found Indians were "deeply apprehensive" of China's ambitions in Asia and its policy towards the country.

A large majority of 83 percent Indians considered China a security threat, said the poll, jointly conducted by the Lowy Institute and Australia India Institute (AII).

The poll was supported by MacArthur Foundation. The poll found that multiple reasons for this mistrust, including China's possession of nuclear weapons, competition for resources in third countries, China's efforts to strengthen its relations with other countries in the Indian Ocean region and the China-India border dispute.

Although China has become India's largest trading partner, only 31 percent of Indians agree that China's rise has been good for India but in responding to China's rise.

While 65 percent agreed India should join other countries to limit China's influence yet a similar number of 64 percent agree that India should cooperate with China to play a leading role in the world.

'India Poll 2013: Facing the Future', which surveyed 1233 Indians, was carried out late last year and much before last month's incursion by Chinese troops in Ladakh.

"It found that a big majority of Indians surveyed in a new opinion poll see China as a security threat," said Amitabh Mattoo, the director of AII.

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