A recent survey conducted by a think tank revealed that a majority of Filipinos prefer aligning with the United States over China in the West Philippine Sea territorial dispute. The survey, conducted by Oculum Research and Analytics, found that 43% of Filipinos would rather see the Philippines align with the US in case of increased tensions in the disputed waters, compared to only 3% who suggested aligning with China.
According to Racidon Benarte, the research head of Oculum Research, there is a noticeable weariness among the public towards deepening ties with China. Joseph Mercado, Oculum’s research and analytics chief statistician, pointed out that the low level of trust in China and the high level of distrust could be attributed to various factors such as geopolitical tensions, economic competition, territorial disputes, and concerns over political and human rights abuses.
The survey also revealed that 40% of Filipinos prefer not to align with any superpower and instead suggested an “autonomous approach” to the dispute. In the event of violence erupting in the South China Sea, 32% of Filipinos recommend seeking military assistance from the US, while 31% suggest that the Philippines should defend its territory against China.
The poll showed that only 17% of Filipinos find China trustworthy, with 38% considering China untrustworthy. Among the 16 countries included in the survey, China received the highest level of distrust, followed by Russia with 19% distrust. When it comes to a partnership with China, 12% of Filipinos support it, while 58% do not.
Tensions in the West Philippine Sea have escalated recently, with incidents involving China’s Coast Guard and maritime militia stirring up tensions in the disputed areas. Last month, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine supply boat, injuring three Navy personnel. The Philippines and the US have started joint military exercises known as the Balikatan Exercises.
The survey by Oculum Research and Analytics was conducted nationwide from February 21 to February 29, with 3,000 respondents selected through random sampling.
