About eight in 10 Filipinos think it is not right that the government is doing nothing about China’s intrusion in claimed territories, the latest Social Weather Stations survey showed.
In the nationwide survey conducted from June 27 to 30, 1,200 respondents were particularly asked, “Is (activity) right or not right for the Philippine government to do in resolving the conflict between the Philippines and China about the West Philippine Sea?”
Five specific activities were presented.
Eighty-one percent of Filipinos repudiate the government’s policy of doing nothing about China’s intrusion in the West Philippine Sea.
Eighty percent said it is right for the government to strengthen the military capability of the Philippines, especially the Navy.
Seventy-four percent said it is right for the government to bring the issue to international organizations, like the United Nations or Association of Southeast Asian Nations, for a diplomatic and peaceful negotiation with China about the claimed territories.
Seventy-three percent said it is alright to have direct, bilateral negotiations between the Philippines and China to discuss the resolution of the issue of the claimed territories.
Sixty-eight percent said the government should ask other countries to mediate the issue of the claimed territories.
The SWS also found 81 percent of Filipinos aware of the West Philippine Sea conflict even before the poll, while the remaining 19 percent learned about the issue only during the survey.
Among those who were aware about the West Philippine Sea conflict before the interview, 12 percent had extensive knowledge, 40 percent had adequate knowledge, 43 percent had only a little knowledge, and five percent had very little knowledge about the matter.
The survey also found that 18 percent of Filipinos have much trust, 27 percent undecided, and 53 percent have little trust in China.
This translates to -35 China’s net trust rating (percent much trust minus percent little trust), classified by SWS as “bad.”
-Ellalyn V. Ruiz
