By Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit
Two independent nationwide surveys conducted in December 2025 show that approximately nine out of ten Filipinos either distrust China or view it as the country’s greatest external threat.
The Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Stratbase, only 11 percent have trust for China while the Octa Research survey showed similar results at a low 13 percent. The gap between distrust and trust is wide and consistent across regions and socioeconomic groups. It reflects a national sentiment shaped by China’s conduct in the West Philippine Sea and its treatment of Filipino fisherfolk and state authorities.
This sentiment is grounded in lived experience. China has continued aggressive actions against Filipino fisherfolk and frontline personnel in our waters, while simultaneously maligning Philippine government officials in the online information space.
It repeatedly twists the narrative by labeling the Philippines as the “provoker” in the West Philippine Sea, in direct contradiction of well documented and verifiable facts.
It is China that has repeatedly employed coercive and dangerous actions in Philippine seas, resulting in harm to Filipino civilians. It is also China that continues to undermine the reputations of Philippine officials who are simply stating verifiable facts.
These survey results point to a clear national consensus: Filipinos recognize that China’s actions pose a direct threat to the country’s sovereignty.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and binding, and it decisively rejected China’s expansive “historic rights” claims. Peace and stability in the West Philippine Sea can only be sustained through respect for international law, not on disinformation or rhetorical deflection.
Prof. Manhit is president and CEO of renowned think-tank Stratbase Institute