A significant majority of Filipino adults (68%) favored the continued disclosure of China’s actions against Philippine vessels and fishermen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as the Philippines chairs the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year, according to a Pulse Asia survey.
The recent Ulat ng Bayan poll revealed that while most Filipinos favor disclosure, 8% believe the Philippines should not continue to disclose these incidents, and 4% were undecided or refused to answer.
Support for revealing China’s actions in the WPS was notably higher in the National Capital Region and Balance Luzon, both at 75%, followed by Mindanao at 68%, while the Visayas recorded the lowest support at 45%.
The survey also indicated that the United States is perceived as the most trusted country by Filipino adults when it comes to working with the Philippines to defend its rights and uphold international law in the WPS, with 70% trust.
This was followed by Japan (46%), Australia (37%), Canada (26%), and ASEAN (24%).
Other partners mentioned by respondents include South Korea (20%), Russia (19%), the United Kingdom (16%), Germany (13%), and Taiwan (6%).
Additionally, more than half of Filipino adults (59%) want U.S. President Donald Trump to visit the Philippines during the ASEAN and East Asia meetings this year.
Trump was followed in popularity by Russian President Vladimir Putin at 10% and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at 9%. Chinese President Xi Jinping received only 3%.
The face-to-face survey was conducted from February 27 to March 2, with 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above, and has a margin of error of ±2.8% at the 95% confidence level.
