Palace hopes Filipinos will appreciate China soon

Malacañang on Thursday expressed hopes that Filipinos would appreciate China in the future.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after the result of the third quarter survey released on Wednesday by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) indicated that China remains to be the least trusted country among Filipinos with a net trust rating of -33.

Panelo said the Palace was not surprised of the Filipinos’ perception of China, adding it was “foreseeable and understandable” given the maritime dispute between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.

The Palace official said Malacañang would neither court nor force any citizen to change his or her sentiments toward China.

“We will respect their conviction the way we value their allegiance to the Republic and its elements,” Panelo said.

“It is in our belief, however, that China, like any other country, will be eventually appreciated by the Filipinos by reason of the President's independent foreign policy which has resulted in significant benefits favorable to the Philippines. Verily, China could even become a role model of the Philippines in reducing, if not totally eradicating, poverty.”

According to the SWS, net trust in China has been positive in only nine out of 51 surveys since the first poll in August 1994.

The highest net trust rating for China was +17 in June 2010 while the lowest was -46 in September 2015.  —LBG, GMA News