THE share of Filipinos who distrust China rose to 64% in July from 55% in March, reflecting heightened public attention to disputes in the South China Sea, according to an OCTA Research survey released on Wednesday.
“This suggests that more Filipinos are moving away from uncertainty and settling into a firmer — and increasingly distrustful — view of China,” OCTA said in its report.
Trust in China slipped to 14% from 17%, while the share of undecided respondents fell to 21% from 28%, suggesting more Filipinos have settled on a clear view of Beijing.
OCTA said public opinion appeared “highly responsive to the information environment,” particularly when maritime issues dominate national discourse.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.
The survey results coincided with renewed attention to the West Philippine Sea following the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling that voided China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The period also saw continued diplomatic exchanges and maritime incidents involving Philippine and Chinese vessels.
“The findings are consistent with the view that heightened public attention to the West Philippine Sea coincided with a significant increase in distrust toward China,” OCTA said.
The pollster said the latest results reversed a moderating trend that had persisted for nearly two years. Distrust had eased from a record 95% in 2024 to 85% in July 2025 before falling further to 55% in March this year.
OCTA said the earlier decline had been “fragile,” noting that it reflected growing ambivalence rather than rising confidence in China.
“A single period of heightened national attention was sufficient to reverse more than a year of gradual movement toward lower distrust,” it said.
Across regions, distrust was strongest in Mimaropa, where 94% of respondents expressed distrust toward China, followed by Caraga at 88%. Central Visayas recorded the lowest distrust rating at 47%, though it remained the dominant sentiment in the region.
By age group, respondents aged 18 to 24 posted the highest distrust rating at 73%, followed by those aged 25 to 34. OCTA did not identify significant differences by sex or income group.
The survey was conducted from July 4 to 11 through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult respondents nationwide. It had a ±3 percentage-point margin of error at the 95% confidence level.
The latest findings come as Manila continues to protest China’s actions in the South China Sea while reaffirming the 2016 arbitral ruling, which Beijing rejects.
‘FALSE NARRATIVE’
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea rejected China’s claim that it authorized the medical evacuation of an injured Philippine Navy serviceman from Second Thomas Shoal, saying the operation was carried out solely by Philippine authorities within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“The Philippines does not ask for, nor does it require, the permission of any foreign nation to conduct operations within its own exclusive economic zone,” the AFP said in a statement.
The military said the July 21 evacuation of an injured Navy serviceman from the BRP Sierra Madre was jointly conducted by the AFP and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), adding that Beijing has no legal basis to authorize or regulate Philippine activities in the area.
The AFP said Ayungin Shoal lies within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile EEZ, as affirmed by the 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Calling China’s statement a “false narrative,” the military said Beijing was trying to create the impression that it exercises authority over waters where it has no lawful jurisdiction.
The response came after the China Coast Guard said it had allowed the evacuation “out of humanitarian consideration” and claimed it had monitored the operation.
The task force likewise disputed Beijing’s account, saying the evacuation was neither authorized by China nor carried out as an act of Chinese humanitarian goodwill.
Instead, the task force said China Coast Guard rigid-hull inflatable boats repeatedly performed dangerous blocking maneuvers during the operation, hampering the transfer of the injured serviceman to PCG vessels and increasing the risks of the time-sensitive mission.
“China’s subsequent assertion that it ‘permitted’ the operation is contradicted by the conduct of its own personnel on the scene,” the task force said.
It added that humanitarian medical evacuations should never be obstructed or exploited to advance unlawful maritime claims.
The task force said the incident reflected what it described as China’s “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive” behavior, combining risky actions at sea with disinformation intended to legitimize its claims in the South China Sea.
The AFP and the task force urged Beijing to stop interfering with Philippine operations and comply with international law.
“We remain steadfast in fulfilling our constitutional mandate to protect Philippine sovereignty and sovereign rights, and we will continue to conduct lawful operations throughout the West Philippine Sea without seeking approval of China or any other foreign state,” the AFP said.
The latest exchange followed a confrontation near Ayungin Shoal earlier this week that left a Philippine Navy serviceman injured.
Philippine authorities said the sailor sustained a head injury after an encounter with China Coast Guard personnel during a routine rotation and resupply mission to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, which serves as Manila’s military outpost at the disputed shoal.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a request for comment sent via Viber.
MARCOS-RUBIO MEETING
Also on Wednesday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed the Philippine-US alliance, pledging deeper cooperation on economic security, defense and emerging technologies during Mr. Rubio’s visit to Manila.
The two officials agreed to boost collaboration in areas of mutual interest during Mr. Rubio’s courtesy call at Malacañang, held on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’ meetings, according to the Presidential Communications Office.
“Generally, it was just mostly on… strengthening our relationship,” Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel G. Romualdez told reporters. “The President, of course, expresses his gratitude to the continued support that we’ve been getting from the United States on all matters, not only in the defense but also on the economic front.”
Mr. Rubio also conveyed greetings from US President Donald J. Trump, Mr. Romualdez said, adding that the US leader might visit the Philippines in November for the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit.
Mr. Romualdez said Mr. Marcos welcomed progress on the Luzon Economic Corridor and the US-backed Pax Silica initiative as key drivers of economic security.
“He’s very pleased that it’s moving quickly and that will definitely help the Philippine economy and our aspiration to have the kind of economic prosperity that we’ve been looking for because it spells economic security for us,” he said.
Pax Silica includes plans for a 1,618-hectare economic security zone in New Clark City, Tarlac, focused on artificial intelligence, semiconductor-related industries and other strategic technologies.
The initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen supply chains and attract investment, although some groups have raised concerns over land use, resource management and environmental impacts.
Mr. Romualdez said issues involving the International Criminal Court and the US campaign against the tribunal were not discussed.
“That was not mentioned. Those things have already been communicated to the system, meaning to the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs],” he said.
He also said Philippine trade officials are handling discussions with Washington involving possible US trade actions under Section 301 of the US Trade Act.
“Our Department of Trade, our trade negotiator who is involved in that one, will come up with some explanations on how we can avert some of those tariffs that are related to the 301,” Mr. Romualdez said, adding that the issue did not come up during the meeting.
The meeting took place as the Philippines and the US mark 80 years of diplomatic relations. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking and Pexcel John Bacon
