Most Filipinos still distrust China, Russia —Pulse Asia

Despite efforts of President Rodrigo Duterte to build relations with Russia and China, most Filipinos still distrust the two countries, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey released Tuesday.

The survey, conducted from March 15 to 20 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents, showed that majority of Filipinos trust the United States (79 percent), Japan (75 percent), Australia (69 percent), and Great Britain/United Kingdom (53 percent).

The survey's results were similar to Pulse Asia's survey last December.

Among international groups, Filipinos trust the United Nations (82 percent) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (81 percent).

Pulse Asia said most Filipinos distrust China (63 percent) and Russia (56 percent).

Pulse Asia said the survey has a ± 3 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level. Subnational estimates for each of the geographic areas covered in the survey have a ± 6 percent error margin, also at 95 percent confidence level.

Issues

The firm said the detected presence of a Chinese survey vessel in Benham Rise was among the hottest issues during the survey period.

The other issues mentioned were the impeachment complaints against Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo.

The Philippines last week hosted the 30th ASEAN Summit, wherein it issued a chairman's statement in which it removed an indirect reference to the arbitration ruling that invalidated China's claims on the South China Sea.

Duterte on Monday visited China's flagship destroyer Changchun which was docked at the Sasa Port in Davao City. He then expressed willingness to conduct joint exercises with China not only in the South China Sea but also in the Sulu Sea.

The President was earlier invited to visit Russia in May. This was upon the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the APEC Leaders' Meeting in Peru in November 2016.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has invited Duterte to the White House during a phone call on Saturday after the Philippines hosted the 30th ASEAN Summit.

Trump, for his part, confirmed that he would visit the Philippines in November 2017 for the East Asia Summit (EAS) as he is committed to improve the Philippine-US alliance. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/ALG/KG, GMA News