Most Filipinos want expanded naval patrols, troop presence in WPS —OCTA Research survey

Majority of Filipinos believe the Marcos administration should assert the country's territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea through expanded naval patrols and troop presence in the area, the result of the survey conducted by OCTA Research released Tuesday showed

The Tugon ng Masa Fourth Quarter survey, conducted from December 10 to 14, 2023, asked 1,200 adult respondents what measures should the administration prioritize to address the issues related to the conflict in the West Philippine Sea effectively. The respondents were given a list of measures and asked to rank them.

Seventy-two percent of the respondents wanted the government to further assert the Philippines' territorial rights through military action defined as expanded naval patrols and troop presence in the WPS.

Meanwhile, 70% said the issue should be addressed through diplomacy and other peaceful methods.

OCTA Research said the percentage of adult Filipinos who prefer asserting the Philippines’ territorial rights through military action increased by 7 percentage points since the third quarter 2023 TNM Survey conducted last October 2023.

It also noted that this was the first time “asserting the Philippines’ territorial rights through military action” as a priority measure overtook the top-ranked measure in previous TNM surveys, which is through diplomacy and other peaceful methods.

The other measures supported by Filipinos were modernizing and strengthening the Philippine military’s capability to protect the country’s territories (66%); conducting joint maritime patrol and exercises with ally countries (42%); expanding diplomatic efforts with the countries within and outside of the region to reduce tension in the area (37%); and shelve the disputes for joint economic development of the area (14%).

The survey has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.

The Philippines has repeatedly called out China over its repeated aggression in the WPS that include the ramming and firing of water cannons at Philippine vessels.

Tensions between China and Philippines have heightened in recent months as both sides trade accusations over a series of incidents in the WPS.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration concluded that China had no legal basis to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within the ‘nine-dash line.’

China, however, has said that it does not recognize the ruling.—AOL, GMA Integrated News