52% of Filipinos believe PHL can have good relations with US, China —SWS

More than half of adult Filipinos believe it is possible for the Philippines to have good relations with China and the US, results of the latest Social Weather Stations survey found.

Figures showed 52% of adult Filipinos believe in the possibility of a good relationship with both countries, while 41% said it was not possible. Meanwhile, 7% did not have an answer.

The survey further found that "those with 'much trust' in China have stronger belief that the Philippines can have a good relationship with both China and the US at the same time."

However, those with 'little trust' in China valued the country's relationship with the US more than its relationship with China, according to the survey.

Results also showed that 78% believe that the Philippines' relationship with the US is more important than its relationship with China, while 12% said otherwise.

The survey was conducted from September 27 to September 30 using face-to-face interviews of 1,800 adults, who are 18 years old and above, nationwide with an error margin of +2.3%.

Meanwhile, 600 respondents were each taken in Balance Luzon and Mindanao, with a +4% margin of error each in their results. Metro Manila and Visayas each had 300 respondents and results had an error margin of +6% each.

The area estimates were weighted by Philippine Statistics Authority medium-population projections for 2019 to obtain the national estimates.

Trust

Results showed that 21% of adult Filipinos have 'much trust' in China, while 23% are undecided, and 54% answered  that they have 'little trust' in the country, leading to a net trust rating of a bad -33.

Among the 21% who said they have 'much trust' in China, 67% said it was possible to have a good relationship with both China and the US. This is 49% higher than those who were undecided, and the 48% among those who said they have 'little trust'.

Meanwhile, 80% answered that they have 'much trust' in the US, 11% were undecided, while 8% said they have 'little trust', leading to a net trust rating of an excellent +72.

The survey further found that the proportion of those who believed in a good relationship with both countries hardly varied at 53% among those with much trust in the US, and at 50% with those who were undecided about their trust.

However, it also noted that figures were slightly lower among those who answered 'little trust' at 45%.

Meanwhile, for those who had 'little' trust' in China, 84% answered that the Philippines' relationship with the US is more important than its relationship with China.

This is higher than the 75% who said they were undecided with their trust in China, and the 69% who answered that they had much trust in China.

According to the survey, the proportion of those who said the Philippines' relationship with the US is more important is 84% among those who said they have 'much trust' in the US. This is higher than the 57% who said they were undecided in their trust, and the 55% who said they have 'little trust.'

Meanwhile, about half of the respondents in all areas in the Philippines said a good relationship with both countries were possible, with 53% in Mindanao, 52% in Metro Manila, 52% in Balance Luzon, and 48% in Visayas.

The proportion of those who consider the country's relationship with the US to be more important is highest in Balance Luzon at 83%, followed by Metro Manila at 79%, Visayas at 77%, and Mindanao at 67%. —Joahna Lei Casilao/KG, GMA News