Context: In Asian countries such as China, Korea, and Japan, dogs are viewed as kind protectors. The role of the dog in Chinese mythology includes a position as one of the twelve animals which cyclically represent years (the zodiacal dog).

Question: Three Asian countries see dogs as what?
Answer: kind protectors.

Question: What country has the dog as part of its 12 animals that represent years?
Answer: China

Question: How are dogs viewed in Asian countries?
Answer: as kind protectors