Australians say they would support Taiwan if China attacks, with limits: survey

SYDNEY, June 20 (Reuters) – Australians would support responding to a Chinese attack on Taiwan with economic sanctions, supplying weapons or using the navy to prevent a blockade, but would not support sending troops, according to an opinion poll that It will be published on Wednesday.

Canberra says it opposes any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in Taiwan, while the United States has long adhered to a policy of “strategic ambiguity” about whether it would respond militarily to an attack on the island, something Beijing has saying. refused to rule out.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the Asia maximum security meeting in June that Australia supports dialogue between the United States and China because a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would be “devastating to the world.”

The Lowy Institute’s annual survey of public attitudes towards the world found that 82% of respondents supported a security alliance with the US, although three-quarters also think that means Australia would be embroiled in a war in Asia.

The prospect of a US-China military conflict over Taiwan was seen as a “critical threat” by 64% of Australians surveyed, worrying twice as many people as two years ago. The main threat cited, by 68% of respondents, was cyberattacks from other countries.

Ryan Neelam, director of public opinion at the foreign policy think tank, said the survey showed Australians are “wary of conflict” but willing to support Taiwan without becoming ground combatants.

“When it comes to a specific scenario where Taiwan is under military threat and the US is compromised, Australians are inclined to take steps to support Taiwan when it comes to accepting refugees, imposing sanctions on Beijing, shipping arms and supplies. , even getting the navy involved, but that doesn’t extend as far as putting your boots on the ground,” he said.

Eighty percent support accepting Taiwanese refugees, 76% support “imposing economic and diplomatic sanctions on China,” 64% support “Australia sending arms and military supplies to the Taiwanese government,” and 61% support “using the Australian Navy to help prevent China from imposing a blockade around Taiwan”.

Only 42% supported sending “Australian military personnel to Taiwan to help defend it from China.”

Eighty-seven percent said they were concerned that China might open a military base on the Pacific islands.

The survey also reflects the stabilization of ties between Australia and China, which are important trading partners; 56% said that resuming diplomatic contact was in the national interest.

Lowy Institute chief executive Michael Fullilove said Australia’s levels of trust in China remain “shockingly low”, with 15% saying they trust China to act responsibly in the world, compared to the half of five years ago.

The survey is based on surveys of 2,000 people in March and 4,000 in April.

Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney. Edited by Gerry Doyle

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