Most Australians don't support Japan, US over E China Sea issue: survey

Most Australians don't support the United States in any armed conflict between Japan and China over disputes in the East China Sea, a new survey released on Tuesday showed.

Approximately 71 percent of those surveyed in a poll commissioned by the Australia-China Relations Institute, headed by former foreign minister Bob Carr, thought Australia should remain neutral.

Only 15 percent believed that Australia should support Japan and the U.S.

Should a US president ask the Australian prime minister for help in the future, 68 percent of respondents believed the prime minister should refuse America's request.

But only 40 percent of the 1,000 people polled were aware of the dispute at all.

Carr, director of the Institute, said the East China Sea is the most volatile of any disputes that could see Australia drawn into armed conflicts.

"The poll confirms Australians overwhelmingly want their country to stay neutral," he said.

"As far as the public is concerned we are not obliged under Australia-New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) treaty to make any commitment.

"We know that Australians overwhelmingly support the ANZUS treaty but this poll confirms they do not want it invoked in conflict between China and Japan over the islands in the East China Sea."