80% of Japanese fear war with China - poll

Saturday, 17 September, 2016 - 02:00

A poll by the Pew Research Center, a Washington-based think tank, found 80 percent of Japanese were worried about possible conflict around disputed islands, only 59 percent of Chinese voiced similar concerns.

35 percent of Japanese respondents are “very concerned” and 45 percent “somewhat concerned” that territorial disputes between China and its neighbors — namely the Senkakus row — could erupt in conflict.

The isles, located about 400 km west of Okinawa’s main island, are administered by Japan but claimed by China and Taiwan, which call them Diaoyu and Tiaoyutai, respectively.