'China is biggest threat'

By Chung Min-uck

Four out of 10 South Koreans see China as the greatest threat to their national security in the future, a survey showed Thursday.

According to the survey conducted by pollster The Plan Korean at the request of Rep. In Jae-keun of the main opposition Democratic United Party, 40.9 percent answered that China’s rise as a global power will be the most conspicuous threat 10 years from now. North Korea and Japan trailed with 21 and 20 percent, respectively.

“The growing anxiety against China is mainly due to President Lee Myung-bak’s failed diplomatic policies toward its giant neighbor coupled with Beijing’s increasing military might,” said Rep. In. She said “the next administration should change its policy toward China.”

The survey was conducted on 1,032 South Koreans aged 19 or older. The confidence level is 95 percent with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The poll also revealed that China ranked first as “the most likely nation to serve as a stumbling block to the peaceful reunification of the two Koreas.”

Meanwhile, 40 percent of the respondents answered Seoul’s diplomacy and security environments have “deteriorated” under the current administration. Only 13.5 percent said the environments have “improved” while 36.2 percent said “nothing has changed.”

Asked about who possess the biggest threat to the country’s current national security, 37.8 percent cited North Korea, followed by Japan with 27.8 percent. China ranked third with 18.3 percent and the United States came fourth with 6.6 percent.

On the issue of Dokdo, 59.1 percent of the respondents answered North Korea supports South Korea. Over half of the respondents answered the U.S. is taking a “neutral” stance.