OCTA: Most Pinoys See China as Top Threat to Phl

A large majority of Filipinos distrust China and perceive it as the greatest threat to the Philippines, according to a recent survey conducted by the OCTA Research group.

- By JANVIC MATEO

The survey, conducted from July 12 to 17, found that 74 percent of the respondents selected China as the country that poses the greatest threat to the Philippines.

Some 10 percent said none, while the rest were between one and four percent (Russia and North Korea, four percent each; United States and Iran, two percent each; Pakistan, Japan and Saudi Arabia, one percent each).

The survey also asked respondents how much trust they have in China. Eighty-five percent said they distrust China (44 percent not too much trust, 44 percent no trust at all), while only 15 percent said they trust it (one percent great deal of trust, 14 percent fair amount of trust).

Distrust in China was highest among respondents in Metro Manila and the rest of Luzon at 88 percent, followed by those in Mindanao at 84 percent and the Visayas at 77 percent.