THE share of Filipinos who distrust China rose to 64% in July from 55% in March, reflecting heightened public attention to disputes in the South China Sea, according to an OCTA Research survey released on Wednesday.
“This suggests that more Filipinos are moving away from uncertainty and settling into a firmer — and increasingly distrustful — view of China,” OCTA said in its report.
Trust in China slipped to 14% from 17%, while the share of undecided respondents fell to 21% from 28%, suggesting more Filipinos have settled on a clear view of Beijing.
OCTA said public opinion appeared “highly responsive to the information environment,” particularly when maritime issues dominate national discourse.
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