A majority of Filipinos distrust China and consider it the “greatest threat” to the Philippines, according to the latest OCTA Research survey.
Based on the Tugon ng Masa survey conducted from July 12 to 17, 85% of Filipinos distrust China, while only 15% expressed otherwise. OCTA said the distrust is mainly due to China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Other factors include the entry of smuggled Chinese products, the rise in crimes involving Chinese nationals, and job competition from Chinese workers.
The survey also revealed that 74% of Filipinos view China as the greatest threat to the country, compared to only 4% who identified Russia or North Korea.
OCTA noted that Filipinos “not only view China as a direct threat to the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also express concerns about its economic activities and social impact on local industries and communities.”
Additionally, 76% of Filipinos support efforts to protect and assert the country’s sovereign rights, with the highest support recorded in Metro Manila (89%), followed by Mindanao (86%), the Visayas (78%), and Balance Luzon (67%).
The survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents nationwide and has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.
