Ties with China 'more important' than Japan in America

Americans prefer economic ties with China rather than Japan, said a poll conducted by Pew Research Center, a Washington-based think tank.

The poll of 1,000 adults in both the United States and Japan during a two-week period in February shows that 43 percent of Americans prefer economic ties with China, while 36 percent favor ties with Japan.

"Americans' views on the relative importance of economic ties with Japan and China divide along generational, racial and partisan lines," the report said. "In particular, young Americans believe it is more important to have a strong economic relationship with China. Less than half as many people 65 years of age and older agree."