Lowy India Poll 2013 study: 83 percent Indians consider China a security threat

An opinion poll conducted with samples across India has revealed that a large majority of people, 83 percent, considered China as a security threat, though 63 percent would like relations with China to strengthen.

The poll, titled 'India Poll 2013: Facing the future - Indian views of the world ahead' conducted by the Lowy Institute for International Policy and Australia India Institute (AII), was launched at Observer Research Foundation in Delhi today.

The poll revealed multiple reasons for the mistrust between India and China, including China's possession of nuclear weapons, competition for resources in third countries, China's efforts to strengthen relations with other countries in the Indian Ocean region and the India-China 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 the country, according to the poll.

In responding to China's rise, most Indians want an each-way bet: 65 percent agree that Indian should join other countries to limit China's influence. Yet, 64% agree that India should cooperate with China to play a leading role in the world.

The poll also revealed that 83 percent Indians want India-US relations to be strong, while 31 percent see the United States as a security threat.

As far as Pakistan is concerned, an overwhelming majority of 94 percent Indians see it as a threat, citing terrorism as a major reason. The other reasons are that Pakistani army sees India as an enemy, Pakistan's nuclear weapons and Pakistan's sovereignty claim over Kashmir.

Corruption, democracy, domestic policy and other issues also figured in the poll, which was conducted last year between August 30 and October 15.

The global poll launch was followed by the keynote address by Manish Tewari, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting, and a panel discussion moderated by ORF Director Sunjoy Joshi.

Tewari said though he do not generally believe in these kind of polls, India Poll 2013 is worth reading as it red flags various indicators at crucial time when the UPA government will be completing its nine years day after tomorrow.

He said the poll numbers on corruption and military are a cause for worry.

About corruption, Tewari criticised the CAG for hugely exaggerating corruption numbers, spreading a wrong impression.

"When institutions start indulging in fiction writing, that is the greatest greatest disservice that can possibly be done to the nation," the Minister said.

"I think the CAG in the past six years, with due respect to him, as done the greatest disservice to the nation by tossing mystical numbers to the open space," the Minister said.

Participating in the panel discussion, Dr C. Raja Mohan, Head of ORF's Strategic Programme, said following the poll revelation, many of the assumptions in foreign policy will have to change.

He said there should be a redoubled peace initiative towards Pakistan.

Ashok Malik, a well known political commentator who has joined as ORF-AII Chair, said the fact that 42 person people have said the central and state governments had been unfair to Kashmiris showed that a confident Indian society is emerging.