BEIJING: An online survey has found that more Chinese Internet users prefer Pakistan as a neighbour than India, while Japan ranked as the least popular neighbouring country. More than 200,000 internet users took part in the survey conducted by the Chinese edition of the state-run tabloid Global Times known for its nationalistic postures. The survey of 200,000 internet users asked Chinese people to rank their favourite neighbouring countries, as well as to vote on which country they would choose as an ideal neighbour if they had the power redraw global borders. A total of 13,196 people wanted to “move away” Japan, the highest number of votes polled in a survey seeking their views to select neighbours. Other countries that were “moved away” include the Philippines (11,671), Vietnam (11,620), North Korea (11,024), India (10,416), Afghanistan (8,506), and Indonesia (8,167), the results published in the daily said. “China and India have disputes over 120,000 square kms of land and the two have not signed treaty to settle the border disputes,” Sun Lizhou, deputy director of the Academy of the World and China Agendas, Southwest University of Political Science and Law, told the Global Times. India-China have a disputed border stretching up to 3448km. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet. The recent initiatives by India and China to improve relations had little effect on Chinese perceptions. Unsurprisingly majority wants Pakistan often referred as ‘all-weather ally’ by Chinese leaders and media to remain as a neighbour. “Net users used their votes to show the bond shared by China and Pakistan, with 11,831 people wanting the country to ‘stay as a neighbour’,” the report said. Considering the fast developing ties with Nepal, the Chinese wants it too to remain as a neighbour. The news paper gave 36 countries to choose from as options for “new neighbours”. Sweden earned 9,776 votes, accounting for 5.8 per cent. And the other six countries that netizens would most like to be closer are New Zealand, Germany, the Maldives, Singapore, Norway and Thailand. NNI
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