Over 80 pct respondents in Japan, China unfavor the other: poll

TOKYO - A joint poll has showed that 93 percent of Japanese have a negative impression of China, hitting its worst level since the survey began in 2005, while 86.8 percent Chinese view Japan unfavorably, improving a little from last year.

Released Tuesday here, the Public Opinion on China-Japan Relations 2014 survey, sponsored by China Daily and the Japanese non-profit think tank Genron NPO, reveals insightful new developments into how people in each country view one another.

This year's poll showed that though sentiment towards the other continues to be unfavorable, the public in both countries are very conscious of the issues between them.

Approximately 80 percent of Japanese and 70 percent of Chinese see a current situation of worsening national emotion as " undesirable and concerned" or "problem and needs to be resolved."

Asked why they held an unfavorable view of Japan, 64 percent Chinese respondents chose Japan's "purchase" of China-owned Diaoyu Islands as the main reason.

Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing soiled after the Japanese government officially decided to "buy" the Diaoyu Islands and its affiliated islets, which is a serious violation of China's territorial sovereignty.

Another reason, cited by 59.6 percent, was Japan's wartime conduct and its perceived lack of remorse and failure to properly apologize for its occupation of China.

It is worth noting that there is an increase in people who chose "Some Japanese politicians' careless remarks," which came to 31.3 percent, compared with 25.2 percent last year.

This indicates more Chinese people have unfavorable impression due to Japanese politicians' inappropriate words and actions, such as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and some Japanese Cabinet members' visits to the war-time Yasukuni Shrine, a move also triggered strong opposition in Japan.

Despite the various issues facing the two Asian economies, the survey also found that 70.6 percent of Japanese and 65.0 percent of Chinese view bilateral ties as important.

Further more, more than 60 percent of Japanese and 50 percent of Chinese endorsed the cooperation of the two countries in the face of important issues in Asia.

Asked about the summit meeting between the two countries' leaders which have not been held since Abe took office in late 2012, more than half of the Japanese and Chinese public thought it is necessary.

The joint poll, conducted in Japan and China from July through August, covered 1,000 Japanese and 1,539 Chinese.