Filipinos trust US the most to help protect WPS interests, survey says

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos trust the United States (US) the most to help protect the Philippines’ interests in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to a survey commissioned by Stratbase Institute.

Stratbase Institute said in a statement that in the Pulse Asia survey it commissioned, 82 percent of Filipinos wanted the government to work with the US amid continued tensions in the WPS, followed by Japan (64 percent), Canada (58 percent), Australia (51 percent), and South Korea (37 percent).

Meanwhile, the survey found that only 11 percent of Filipinos believed the Marcos administration should work with China to resolve tensions.

India had the lowest rating at four percent, according to Stratbase.

The thinktank explained that the survey asked 1,200 respondents nationwide between Dec. 12 and 15, 2025 to select up to five countries or organizations “they trust and believe the Marcos administration should work with in asserting Philippine rights and protecting national interests.”

The survey had a margin of error of ±2.8 percent.

“These results reflect strong public confidence in partners that respect international law, follow a rules-based order, and support Philippine sovereignty,” Stratbase said in the statement.

READ: Allies in same tide: How PH bolsters peace through partnerships

‘Morale booster’

For its part, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) welcomed the survey results.

“Naiintindihan nila (Filipinos) na, sa halip na maraming false narratives at malign influence na pinapalabas ang Chinese Communist Party, ay mas pinapaniwalaan ang mga like-minded nations na nais suportahan ang international law pagdating sa West Philippine Sea,” AFP spokesperson Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing Tuesday in Camp Aguinaldo.

(Filipinos understand that, despite the many false narratives and malign influence of the Chinese Communist Party, they should trust like-minded nations that support international law when it comes to the West Philippine Sea.)

“It is a very strong morale booster to the AFP. It only shows that our stand of support for rules-based order in the West Philippine Sea now has a trickle-down effect on the Filipinos,” he added. /gsg