Findings from a brand new Pulse Asia survey show that Filipinos still trust the United States probably the most, despite the Duterte administration’s pivot toward non-traditional allies corresponding to China and Russia.
The poll showed that trust in longtime ally the Philippines is at 84 percent, up five points from 79 percent in March 2017.
Only 16 percent of 1,800 respondents said they didn’t trust the superpower.
Japan got here in second after having a 75 percent trust rate and a 25 percent distrust rate. Australia scored 72% trust and 27% distrust, while the UK scored 57% trust and 40% distrust.
For regional organizations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations scored 82% trust and 16% distrust, while the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation scored 80% trust and 17% distrust.
The same study showed that of the countries and foreign organizations on the list, the least trusted were China and Russia, with which the Philippines is deepening its ties.
Sixty-four percent of respondents expressed an absence of trust in China, with 40 percent saying the Philippines must have only a bit of trust and 20 percent saying China shouldn’t be trusted.
Only 39 percent said the country must have a minimum of a good amount of trust in China.
Last November, the Philippines and China agreed to enhance economic, maritime, defense and security relations following President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to Manila.
Only just over 4 in 10 Filipinos (45) said they trust Russia. Fifty-four percent said the Philippines could have either loads or a bit of confidence in an alternate power.
The survey was conducted on December 14-21 using direct interviews. It has a margin of error of ±2.3 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
Events that occurred on the time of the study included Xi’s state visit, the choice to acknowledge Udenna-China Telecom as a short lived third-party telecommunications company, and the approval of the extension of martial law in Minadanao.
Source : Filstar
