MAJORITY of Filipinos distrust China and even consider it the biggest threat to the country, the “Tugon ng Masa” survey conducted by OCTA Research from July 12 to 17 showed.
The survey, which involved 1,200 adult respondents and had a margin of error of ±3 percent, also showed three of four Filipinos support the Philippines’ efforts to assert its rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The military said the survey results will strengthen its resolve to protect the Philippine interest in the WPS.
“The OCTA results show that the Filipino people understand the threat in the WPS and support the stand of government to defend our maritime rights,” said Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea.
“Issues in the WPS are the greatest threat to our existence as a Republic that we all have to face together,” he added.
OCTA Research found that 74 percent said China poses the greatest threat to the country, followed by Russia and North Korea at 4 percent each.
Other countries seen as posing a threat to the Philippines are the United States and Iran at 2 percent each, and Pakistan, Japan and Saudi Arabia at 1 percent each.
The survey showed majority of the respondents across geographical locations (63 percent to 78 percent) and socio-economic classes (73 percent to 84 percent) said that China poses the greatest threat to the country. The highest came from Luzon at 78 percent followed by the National Capital Region (NCR) at 76 percent, Mindanao at 73 percent, and the Visayas at 63 percent; as well as from Class E at 84 percent followed by Class ABC and D at 73 percent each
OCTA Research also found that 85 percent of Filipinos distrust China while 15 percent said the Philippines should trust the Asian giant.
This is a 6-percentage point drop from the 91 percent distrust rating of China in 2024 and a 7-percentage increase in trust rating from 8 percent.
Majority of Filipinos across geographical locations (77 percent to 88 percent) and socio-economic classes (80 to 90 percent) said not too much trust to no trust at all should be extended to China.
The highest distrust came from the NCR and Luzon at 88 percent each followed by Mindanao at 84 percent and the Visayas at 77 percent.
Majority of the masses of Class E or 90 percent also distrust China, followed by Class D at 85 percent and Class E at 80 percent.
AGGRESSION
OCTA said that of those who distrust China, they dislike its aggressive acts in the West Philippine Sea the most (66 percent), followed by the influx of smuggled products from China that hurt local industries (13 percent), increase in criminal cases involving Chinese nationals in the country (9 percent), and influx of Chinese workers who compete for local jobs (8 percent). Four percent did not or cannot say why they distrust China.
The survey firm also found that “a great majority of adult Filipinos agree,” or 76 percent, that the West Philippine Sea is a vital part of the country’s maritime entitlements and they fully support the government’s efforts to assert the country’s sovereign rights.
This is an 8-percentage point drop from the 84 percent recorded in November 2024 when Filipinos said they support government efforts to assert the Philippines’ territorial domain rights in the WPS.
Three percent disagreed while 19 percent remain undecided on the question of whether they agree or disagree that the WPS is part of the country’s maritime domain and should be defended.
The survey firm said these findings show that while there is strong public backing for government actions related to the WPS, “the sizable proportion of undecided respondents in some regions suggests the need for more public education, outreach, and communication efforts to build a deeper and more informed national consensus on the issue.” – With Victor Reyes
