Pulse Asia survey: Majority of Pinoys mistrust China, Russia

Malaya Business Insight (Jan 15, 2019): Pulse Asia survey: Majority of Pinoys mistrust China, Russia

MAJORITY of Filipinos continue to trust the Philippines’ strategic allies – the United States and Japan – and mistrust the “friends” of President Duterte, China and Russia, the December 14 to 21 fourth quarter Ulat ng Bayan survey of Pulse Asia showed.

Pulse Asia said its survey, which involved 1,800 adult respondents nationwide with a +2.3 percent margin of error, was conducted after the November 20 to 22 state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Philippines and signing of about 30 agreements and letters of intent between the Philippines and China; and the US turnover of the Balangiga Bells to the Philippines on December 12, among others.

The survey group added it was done at the time the Senate was conducting its investigation into the influx of undocumented foreign workers, particularly Chinese and the raids conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) that led to the arrest of Chinese online gambling workers.

Presidential spokesman and concurrent Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the latest Pulse Asia survey is not reflective of the swaying powers or influence of Duterte on the public.

“Not necessarily, it takes some time for people to accept certain changes that they are not used to it,” Panelo said.

The President, at the start of his term, said he is pushing for an independent foreign policy wherein the Philippines would reach out to all nations regardless of their proximity to the country or their political persuasions to become less dependent on long time allies like the US and establish
friendship to other nations like China and Russia.

“It’s understandable for Filipinos to feel that way. We have been used to the States being our ally.

But maybe as we go along and we see the sincerity of China with respect to agreements between the two countries, they might change their views,” Panelo said.

The results showed that majority of Filipinos said the Philippines should extend at least a fair amount of trust to the US or 84 percent (up from 79 percent in March 2017) , Japan with 75 percent (unchanged), Australia with 72 percent (up from 69 percent), and United Kingdom with 57 percent (up from 53 percent).

Only 45 percent (up from 42 percent) and 39 percent (up from 37 percent) said a fair amount of trust should be extended Russia and China, respectively.

Pulse Asia said while there was an improvement in trust and distrust ratings of China, majority of Filipinos still said not too much trust to no trust at all should be extended to China (60 percent down from 63 percent), and Russia (54 percent down from 56 percent).

The US (16 percent down from 20 percent), Australia (27 percent down from 30 percent) and UK (450 percent down from 44 percent) saw their distrust ratings going down by 3 to 4 points in December 28 from March 2017 while Japan maintained its distrust rating (25 percent).

Pulse Asia said that across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, the majority opinion is that the Philippines should give a great deal or fair amount of trust to the US (74 percent to 94 percent and 81 percent to 96 percent, respectively); Japan (68 percent to 84 percent and 72 percent to 92 percent, respectively); Australia (68 percent to 78 percent and 68 percent to 88 percent, respectively); and UK (51 percent to 75 percent and 54 percent to 75 percent, respectively).

It added that across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, the majority opinion is that the Philippines should not give too much trust or do not trust China (50 percent to 68 percent and 54 percent to 62 percent, respectively).

It also found that except for Mindanao, (54 percent trust, 45 percent distrust) and classes ABC (57 percent trust, 43 percent distrust) and E (54 percent trust and 44 percent distrust), majority of those from Metro Manila (51 percent), Luzon (57 percent), Visayas (59 percent) and class D (58 percent) said Filipinos should give little to no trust at all on Russia.

Pulse also said that 8 of 10 Filipinos trust Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or 82 percent and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) or 80 percent while only 16 percent and 17 percent said little to no trust should be given to the international organizations, respectively.

Across geographic areas and socio-economic classes, the majority opinion is that the Philippines should trust the ASEAN (80 percent to 83 percent and 79 percent to 89 percent, respectively), and the APEC (79 percent to 82 percent and 79 percent to 91 percent, respectively).

https://malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/pulse-asia-survey-majority-pinoys-mistrust-china-russia