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Military action under ANZUS

+26 from 2013

In 2020, 52% said somewhat agree when asked about despite the alliance, Australia should only support US military action if it is authorised by the United Nations.

Question Military action under ANZUS

I am now going to read a number of statements about Australia and the US alliance. For each one please say whether you personally agree or disagree:

Responses from 2020.

  1. 80%
  2. 60%
  3. 40%
  4. 20%
  5. 0%
  6. 20%
  7. 40%
  8. 60%
  9. 80%
Despite the alliance, Australia should only support US military action if it is authorised by the United Nations
6
24
52
16
Australia should act in accordance with our security alliance with the US even if it means supporting US military action in the Middle East, for example, against Iran
14
44
34
6
Australia should act in accordance with our security alliance with the US even if it means supporting US military action in Asia, for example, in a conflict between China and Taiwan
14
49
28
6

In 2013, the question asked about US military action in Asia, for example in a conflict between China and Japan.

  • Strongly disagree
  • Somewhat disagree
  • Somewhat agree
  • Strongly agree
Total
All groups

2020 observation

Although Australians remain highly supportive of the security alliance with the United States, there is persistent reluctance to support military action under ANZUS. The majority of Australians (68%) say ‘despite the alliance, Australia should only support US military action if it is authorised by the United Nations’.

Only four in ten Australians (40%) agree with the statement that ‘Australia should act in accordance with our security alliance with the United States if it means supporting military action in the Middle East, for example, against Iran’. This is an 8-point decline from 2013. Even fewer Australians (34%) would be supportive of ‘military action in Asia, for example in a conflict between China and Taiwan’. In 2013, a similar proportion of Australians (38%) said Australia should act in accordance with the alliance even if it meant supporting US military action in a conflict between China and Japan.

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