Most Filipinos want gov’t to keep exposing China’s aggression in WPS

AGGRESSION In this photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a China Coast Guard vessel (right) fires its water cannon at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel, near Philippine-occupied Pag-asa (Thitu) Island on Sunday. — Photo from PCG via Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines — Most Filipinos approve of the Marcos administration’s shift toward greater transparency about maritime incidents in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), based on the results of a Pulse Asia survey conducted from Sept. 27 to 30.

Commissioned by the We Protect Our Seas Foundation, the survey published on Wednesday showed that 94 percent of Filipinos believe the government should continue to share information about China’s growing aggression in the West Philippine Sea and its coercive behavior toward Philippine vessels and fisherfolk.

Only 5 percent disagreed with this view, while 1 percent were undecided.

“The data affirms that Filipinos understand the importance of transparency in defending our national interests and upholding international law,” Jeffrey Ordaniel, the president of the foundation, said in a statement.

This also shows the public’s “growing demand for truthful and timely information” in the WPS, he added.

On the other hand, 41 percent of respondents identified the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as the most trustworthy government agency for updates and incident reports on the strategically important waterway.

Trust in the PCG was consistently high across regions, with the agency topping the list in Metro Manila (42 percent), Luzon (43 percent), Visayas (42 percent), and Mindanao (35 percent).

Effective communicator

“It is clear that the Philippine Coast Guard has been effective in communicating the government’s principled, law-based approaches to maritime issues,” Ordaniel said.

The Philippine Navy ranked second with 19 percent, followed by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea at 14 percent.

Other government agencies mentioned in the survey include the Armed Forces of the Philippines (8 percent), Department of National Defense (5 percent), Department of Foreign Affairs (3 percent), National Security Council, and National Maritime Council (both 2 percent).

Meanwhile, 77 percent of respondents identified the United States as the top country capable of managing China’s provocations.

Japan was the second most trusted at 45 percent, followed by Australia at 30 percent.

“Strong public confidence in the United States—our sole treaty ally—and the favorable perception toward partners such as Japan, Australia, and Canada demonstrate a deepening awareness that international cooperation, credible deterrence, and transparency—not silence or appeasement—are vital to countering Beijing’s aggression and coercive activities in the West Philippine Sea,” Ordaniel said.

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