77% of Pinoys see US as PH’s strongest ally vs China's aggression in WPS

Around 77% of Filipinos believe that the United States is the best country to help the Philippines in addressing Chinese coercion in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to survey results from Pulse Asia released Wednesday.

Commissioned by the We Protect Our Seas Foundation, the nationwide survey was conducted from September 27 to 30, 2025.

“Seventy-seven percent of respondents identified the United States as the top country capable of helping the Philippines manage Chinese provocations and safeguard its maritime rights,” the foundation said in a statement.

“The United States leads across all major island groups, with support highest in Metro Manila (82%) and Luzon (81%), followed by the Visayas (77%) and Mindanao (65%),” it added.

The US was followed by Japan with 45%, Australia with 30%,Canada with 29%, and the United Kingdom with 25%, South Korea with 22%, Germany with 17%, France with 10%, and India with 3%. Around 1% of respondents either could not specify or chose “none,” while 0.2% specifically mentioned Russia. 

Respondents were allowed to name up to three countries.

The nationwide survey covered 1,200 respondents aged 18 years and above across Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,with a ±2.8% margin of error at the 95% confidence level.

Aggression

The Philippines in 2016 scored a victory against China in a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated Beijing’s massive South China Sea claims.

China has refused to acknowledge such ruling, and its government in 2022 claimed that it will continue to adhere to what it described as a “friendly consultation” with the Philippines after several Chinese vessels were found “swarming” areas in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines has already filed over 150 diplomatic protests against China regarding the territorial dispute under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. 

Among the latest incidents of Beijing's aggression in the West Philippine Sea took place just this weekend after a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship water cannoned and later rammed a Philippine government vessel in the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island.

The National Maritime Council (NMC) has denounced what it said were illegal and reckless actions of the CCG. —VAL, GMA Integrated News