Survey: 1 in 4 in US Have Asian-American Bias

April 26 -- A national survey released today found a quarter of Americans have a negative bias toward Chinese-Americans and Asian-Americans in what the study's sponsor called a "wake-up call" to everyone who thinks Asian-Americans do not suffer discrimination.

The survey found more Americans were uncomfortable votingfor an Asian-American for president (24 percent of thosesurveyed) than for a candidate who was African-American (15percent), a woman (14 percent) or Jewish (11 percent).

Nearly one half, or 46 percent, of those surveyed felt thatwith Chinese-Americans "passing secrets to the Chinesegovernment is a problem," according to the survey, sponsored bythe Committee of 100, a group of prominent Chinese-Americans.

Thirty-two percent felt Chinese-Americans were more loyalto China than the United States, it said, and 24 percent saidthey would not approve of intermarriage with anAsian-American.

Many Negative Stereotypes

Research and marketing firm Yankelovich Partners, whichconducted the study, determined that overall 25 percent ofthose surveyed had very negative attitudes towardChinese-Americans.

"We always knew there was an element of some negative bias… but we were startled by the results, that the numbers wereas high as they were," said Henry Tang, chairman of theCommittee of 100.

"This has provided conditions for somewhat of a wake-upcall for all of us Americans of Asian heritage. The oft-quotedmodel minority may be model, but it still has many problems,"he told a news conference to release the survey results.

In the Aftermath of Wen Ho Lee

The committee, formed in 1989 to address the concerns ofAmericans of Chinese and Asian heritage and improveSino-American relations, is holding its annual conference inWashington, D.C., to discuss the survey and strains inU.S.-China ties.

It commissioned the survey after recent incidents includingthe jailing of Taiwan-born nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee.