A recent survey conducted by OCTA Research revealed that a majority of Filipinos perceive China as the biggest threat to the Philippines. The poll, which was conducted in March, showed that 76% of adult Filipinos view China as the top threat to the country. This perception has remained steady since December 2023, with only a slight decrease from a three-year high of 79%.
The survey also found that China is seen as a major threat across all regions of the Philippines, with at least 71% of respondents in all major areas holding this view. In Metro Manila, 86% of residents consider China to be the top threat.
On the economic front, the survey noted an increase in Filipinos’ positive perception of China. Compared to October 2022, the percentage of Filipinos who view Beijing positively rose from 31% to 44%.
In terms of other perceived threats, Russia came in a distant second, with only 9% of Filipinos considering it to be the biggest threat to the country. This concern was higher in Visayas at 14%, while it was lower in NCR at 6%.
The nationwide survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews of 1,200 respondents and had a margin of error of ±3% at a 95% confidence level.
