China's neighbours worried about Beijing's military, economic might: poll

China's neighbours feel threatened by the country's overseas investments and military might, even though people in many countries around the world view the Asian power's economic growth positively, a poll showed Thursday.

While just over half of people in Japan agreed that China's economic growth was a good thing, a huge 75 percent perceived investment from China in their country negatively, a survey by Washington-based Pew Research Center found.

Responses in Australia, South Korea and the Philippines followed a similar pattern, according to the survey of more than 38,000 people across 34 countries. Overall, 79 percent of people across the Asia-Pacific region said they are alarmed by China's growing military strength, with as many as nine in ten in Japan and South Korea feeling this way, Pew researchers said.

China - the world's second-largest economy - has adopted a more bullish approach to foreign relations under President Xi Jinping.

Beijing has built military installations and sent survey ships into disputed territory in the fiercely contested South China Sea, where several countries have competing claims. At the same time, China has extended its economic influence around the world through overseas investments, loans and aid to developing countries.

People in emerging markets tended to view China's economic growth more positively than those in developed countries, the survey also found. China's dependability as an ally was viewed most positively in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, with 30 percent, 22 percent and 19 percent of people in these countries respectively naming China as a top ally - although even these countries showed a stronger preference for the US.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2019