Recent polls show that the American and Japanese publics view relations between their two countries as fairly positive. The Japanese, however, are more confident than are the Americans of receiving military support from the other in case of a conflict in East Asia.
China is ranked second by both publics as a likely military threat in the future.
A large majority of the publics in each country support the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty and expect it to last many years. While no more than one-fourth in either country favors complete withdrawal of U.S. military bases or forces from Japan, most Japanese favor reducing the number of U.S. bases and military personnel in Japan and oppose using Japan's military forces alongside U.S. forces to resolve a conflict in East Asia. Neither public, however, has been eager to strengthen the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. The poll also indicates that another 44 percent of Americans favor reducing U.S. forces and 5 percent favor withdrawing them. However, only 10 percent opposed any form of cooperation with the United States.