Widespread local scepticism towards China and strong backing for Manila’s claims in the South China Sea are set to shape Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s foreign policy choices, as his camp looks to maintain influence ahead of the 2028 election.
The latest survey by polling firm OCTA Research, released on Monday, found that 85 per cent of Filipinos distrust China – slightly lower than the 91 per cent recorded in March 2024 but still a strikingly high figure.
Analysts say the sustained level of scepticism underscores the political pressure on Marcos to take a firm stance amid ongoing tensions with Beijing.
Gary Ador Dionisio, dean of the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde’s School of Diplomacy and Governance, cited how the Filipino public viewed China as having worsened “problems in peace and order” while also harassing local fisherfolk.
“For an ordinary Filipino with no knowledge of foreign policy, [China is] not helping us but worsening our living conditions,” he told This Week in Asia.
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Chinese ships collide during clash with Philippine coastguard in contested South China Sea
Chinese ships collide during clash with Philippine coastguard in contested South China Sea
Public sentiment entrenched
OCTA’s poll, conducted in July with about 1,200 respondents, shows Filipinos overwhelmingly view China as the Philippines’ biggest security concern, with 74 per cent identifying it as the greatest threat among 10 countries listed. That share is broadly consistent with earlier surveys, underscoring persistent anxieties over Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea.
