An overwhelming majority of Filipinos support the Philippines’ cooperation with like-minded nations in defending its sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by the Stratbase Institute showed.
The May 3 to 7 survey found that 86 percent of Filipinos agree that the country should work with like-minded nations to defend the West Philippine Sea in accordance with the 2016 arbitral ruling.
Only 3 percent disagreed, while 11 percent were undecided, according to the survey, a copy of which was released on Thursday.
The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s sweeping claims over almost the entire South China Sea under its nine-dash line and clarified maritime entitlements under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The survey, conducted among 1,500 respondents nationwide with a margin of error of ±3 percent, showed broad support across all geographic areas.
Support was highest in Mindanao at 91 percent, followed by the National Capital Region at 90 percent, the Visayas at 86 percent, and the rest of Luzon at 82 percent.
Disagreement remained low across all areas, with 4 percent in Mindanao and the rest of Luzon, and 2 percent in NCR and the Visayas.
Across socio-economic classes, support was also strong, led by Class ABC at 88 percent and Class D at 87 percent, followed by Class E at 75 percent.
The highest level of disagreement was recorded among Class E at 6 percent, followed by Class ABC at 4 percent and Class D at 3 percent.
The poll also showed that most Filipinos favor working with the United States, Japan, Australia and Canada in defending the West Philippine Sea.
The United States received the highest support at 84 percent, followed by Japan at 67 percent, Australia at 57 percent and Canada at 51 percent.
Other preferred partners were South Korea at 44 percent, the United Kingdom at 32 percent, the European Union at 26 percent and India at 9 percent.
Some respondents also favored cooperation with fellow claimants in the West Philippine Sea, including Taiwan at 23 percent and China at 18 percent. Three percent either refused to answer or could not say which country or group the Philippines should work with.
Support for the alliance with the United States was strongest in NCR at 86 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon and Mindanao at 85 percent each.
Japan also drew high support in Metro Manila, with 87 percent of respondents in the capital region favoring cooperation with Tokyo.
Across socio-economic classes, the United States remained the top preferred partner, with support from 86 percent of Class E, 84 percent of Class D and 81 percent of Class ABC.
Stratbase Institute president and CEO Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said the survey results were released ahead of the 128th anniversary of Philippine independence and a month before the country marks the 10th anniversary of its arbitral victory.
“Filipinos clearly recognize that upholding the 2016 arbitral award and strengthening cooperation with like-minded nations are essential components of preserving our independence in the 21st century,” Manhit said.
“As we mark a decade of our victory at The Hague, we must do our part in defending our hard-won triumph so that future generations inherit a nation that is free, secure and respected in the international community,” he added.