Pinoys sees China as greatest threat – OCTA survey

MANILA, Philippines — As its aggression at sea continues to escalate, China is perceived by three in every four Filipinos as the “greatest threat” to the Philippines, a survey conducted by OCTA Research showed.

The survey, conducted from March 11 to 14 but only released Wednesday night, found 76 percent of the respondents seeing China as greatest threat to the Philippines.

While three points lower than the 79 percent posted in December 2023, OCTA said the figures may be considered statistically similar given that the change was within the margin of error for national percentages.

Across areas, those who see China as the greatest threat to the Philippines was highest in Metro Manila at 86 percent, followed by rest of Luzon at 77 percent, Visayas at 73 percent, and Mindanao at 71 percent).

Around 77 percent of respondents from socio-economic class D saw China as the greatest threat, closely followed by those in class E at 76 percent and class ABC at 63 percent.

Following China as the country perceived to be greatest threat to the Philippines is Russia, with nine percent.

Some five percent of the respondents answered “none,” while two percent identified North Korea, Pakistan and Japan.

Obtaining one percent or lower are Saudi Arabia, United States, India, United Kingdom and Australia.

OCTA also asked respondents regarding their views on China’s impact on the Philippine economy.

Only 13 percent said China had a positive impact, down from 16 percent in the survey conducted from December 2023.

Meanwhile, 44 percent said China does not have a positive impact on the country’s economy, almost similar to 43 percent in December 2023, but 13 points higher than the 31 percent obtained in October 2023.

Those who were undecided remained almost similar, from 41 percent in December 2023 to 42 percent in the March 2024 survey.

OCTA’s non-commissioned Tugon ng Masa survey had 1,200 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent for national percentages.