Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: First Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey: Most Pinoys agree that the suit against Xi Jinping in the ICC tells the world that China should leave the West PH Sea

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

First Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey: Most Pinoys agree that the suit against Xi Jinping in the ICC tells the world that China should leave the West PH Sea

From the Social Weather Stations (SWS) Website (Apr 17, 2019): First Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey: Most Pinoys agree that the suit against Xi Jinping in the ICC tells the world that China should leave the West PH Sea

SWS Special Report (printer-friendly version here)

The First Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey, done on March 28-31, 2019, found that 49% of adult Filipinos agree that the suit filed by former officials of the Philippine government against Chinese President Xi Jinping before the International Criminal Court (ICC) tells the world that China should leave the islands it has occupied in the West Philippine Sea.

To the test statement, “The suit filed in the ICC by Albert Del Rosario and Conchita Carpio-Morales, former officials of the PH government, against Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping for wrongful destruction of the livelihood of Filipino fisherman shows the world that China should leave the islands it has occupied in the West Philippine Sea [Ang paghabla sa ICC ni Albert Del Rosario at Conchita Carpio-Morales, dating opisyales ng PH government, laban kay Xi Jinping, Pangulo ng Tsina, tungkol sa walang-karapatang paninira ng Tsina sa hanapbuhay ng mga mangingisdang Pilipino ay nagpapakita sa mundo na dapat umalis ang Tsina sa mga islang inokupa nya sa West Philippine Sea],” 27% strongly agree (lubos na sumasang-ayon), 22% somewhat agree (medyo sumasang-ayon), 28% are undecided if agree or disagree (hindi tiyak kung sang-ayon o di sang-ayon), 10% somewhat disagree (medyo hindi sumasang-ayon), and 7% strongly disagree (lubos na hindi sumasang-ayon) [Chart 1].

This gives a net agreement score (% strongly/somewhat agree minus % somewhat/strongly disagree) of +32, classified by SWS as very strong.

SWS terminology for Net Agreement: +50 and above, “Extremely Strong”; +30 to +49, “Very Strong”; +10 to +29, “Moderately Strong”, +9 to –9, “Neutral”; –10 to –29, “Moderately Weak”; –30 to –49, “Very Weak”; –50 and below, “Extremely Weak”.

Net agreement is “Very strong” regardless of trust or distrust in China

Net agreement with the statement was very strong regardless of people’s trust or distrust in China as a country.

It was very strong +34 among those with much trust in China, very strong +30 among those undecided with their trust, and very strong +33 among those with little trust in China [Chart 2].

On April 16, 2019, SWS reported the First Quarter 2019 survey results showing that, of the four specific countries tested for public trust, China obtained the lowest net trust (% much trust minus % little trust) of neutral -6, compared to the United States with very good +60, Japan with good +34, and Australia with good +33 (“First Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey: Net trust stays ‘Very good’ for the United States; ‘Good’ for Japan and Australia; ‘Neutral’ for China”, www.sws.org.ph, 16 April 2019).

“Very strong” in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon, “Moderately strong” in Mindanao and the Visayas

Net agreement that the ICC suit against Chinese President Xi Jinping tells the world that China should leave the islands it has occupied in the West Philippine Sea was highest in Metro Manila at very strong +43, followed by Balance Luzon at very strong+39, Mindanao at moderately strong +23, and the Visayas at moderately strong +18 [Chart 3].

“Very strong” in classes ABC and D, among high school graduates and above

Net agreement with the statement was highest in class ABC at very strong +42, followed by class D or the masa at very strong+33, and class E at moderately strong +23 [Chart 4].

By education, it was highest among college graduates at very strong +45, followed by high school graduates at very strong+37, elementary graduates at moderately strong +26, and non-elementary graduates at moderately strong +17 [Chart 5].

Survey background

The March 2019 Social Weather Survey was conducted from March 28-31, 2019 using face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 360 each in Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±2.6% for national percentages, and ±5% each for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao).

The area estimates were weighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2019 to obtain the national estimates.

The Social Weather Survey question on public opinion about the ICC suit against Chinese President Xi Jinping and China leaving the islands it has occupied in the West Philippine Sea is non-commissioned. It was included on SWS's own initiative and released as a public service.

The exact question was: “Ngayon po, mayroon ako ritong mga statements o pangungusap na maaaring maglarawan sa nararamdaman o naiisip ng mga tao ngayon. Pakisabi po kung kayo ay sumasang-ayon o hindi sumasang-ayon sa mga statements o pangungusap na ito. Pakilagay lang po ang kard na may pangungusap sa naaangkop na lugar sa rating board na ito. (Lubos na sumasang-ayon, Medyo sumasang-ayon, Hindi tiyak kung sumasang-ayon o hindi sumasang-ayon, Medyo hindi sumasang-ayon, o Lubos na hindi sumasang-ayon) [I have here some statements which may reflect how people feel or think about certain matters at present. Please tell me if you agree or disagree with these statements. You may indicate your answers by placing the card with the statement in the appropriate place on this rating board. (Strongly agree, Somewhat agree, Undecided if agree or disagree, Somewhat disagree, or Strongly disagree)]:”

Q124. “Ang paghabla sa ICC ni Albert Del Rosario at Conchita Carpio-Morales, dating opisyales ng PH government, laban kay Xi Jinping, Pangulo ng Tsina, tungkol sa walang-karapatang paninira ng Tsina sa hanapbuhay ng mga mangingisdang Pilipino ay nagpapakita sa mundo na dapat umalis ang Tsina sa mga islang inokupa nya sa West Philippine Sea [The suit filed in the ICC by Albert Del Rosario and Conchita Carpio-Morales, former officials of the PH government, against Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping for wrongful destruction of the livelihood of Filipino fisherman shows the world that China should leave the islands it has occupied in the West Philippine Sea]”

SWS employs its own staff for questionnaire design, sampling, fieldwork, data-processing, and analysis, and does not outsource any of its survey operations. This report was prepared by Leo S. Laroza, with special tabulations done by Joanne C. Evangelista.