Latest poll: More than 70% of Filipinos see China as the biggest threat
As the sovereignty friction between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea escalates, a Philippine polling organization recently released the latest data, showing that as many as 70% of Filipinos believe that China is the biggest threat and support the Philippine government to increase its military deployment in the South China Sea.
According to international media reports, OCTA Research, a private polling organization that cooperates with the University of the Philippines, recently released a poll result showing that 76% of Filipinos believe that China is the biggest threat to the Philippines, and Russia ranks second at 9%. At the same time, 73% of the public support the government to further defend the sovereignty of the Philippines in the relevant waters of the South China Sea through military action, including increasing maritime patrols and military deployment.
The poll was conducted in March this year and surveyed 1,200 respondents. OCTA analysis pointed out that compared with the 59% of data when Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office at the end of 2022, the proportion of Filipinos who regard China as the biggest threat has increased significantly by 17%.
This station previously reported that since Marcos succeeded Rodrigo Duterte as the President of the Philippines, the Philippines has become increasingly tough on China on the South China Sea sovereignty issue. This year alone, the Philippines has summoned Chinese diplomats more than 20 times to express its protest against China on the South China Sea issue. Since Marcos took office, the Philippines has lodged more than 150 diplomatic protests.
The most recent escalation of the conflict between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea occurred on June 7. The Philippine Coast Guard pointed out that the Chinese Coast Guard attempted to obstruct the evacuation of a sick Philippine Marine from the Second Thomas Shoal (called Ren’ai Reef in China) for medical treatment. The Philippine Coast Guard condemned China’s actions as “barbaric and inhumane”. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning denied the Philippine accusation at a regular press conference. She also hinted that the Philippines was using the excuse of providing medical assistance to transport construction materials to the BRP Sierra Madre, which was stranded on Ren’ai Reef, in an attempt to occupy Ren’ai Reef through long-term “beaching”.
Reporter: Tang Yuanyuan Editor: He Ping Web Editor: Hong Wei
