SEVEN out of 10 Filipinos said they would not support candidates who are considered “pro-China” if the 2025 midterm elections were held today, the results of the September 6 to 13 survey of Pulse Asia showed.
The Stratbase ADR Institute-commissioned survey, which involved 1,200 respondents with a margin of error of ±3 percent, showed that 73 percent said they “will not support” a candidate in the May 2025 elections who is pro-China at present or in the past.
The results also showed that five percent said they “will support” pro-China bets while 23 percent “cannot say.”
The survey also showed that the majority of respondents across different geographical areas (65 percent to 85 percent) and socio-economic classes (72 percent to 74 percent) “will not support” the pro-China candidates.
Stratbase ADR Institute President Dindo Manhit said the survey reflects the sentiment of Filipinos — a profound mistrust toward candidates who align themselves with China.
Manhit said many Filipinos feel that China’s actions, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, directly challenge the Philippines’ sovereignty and undermine the nation’s interests.
“This prevailing view is driven by both patriotic sentiment and a desire for leaders who will prioritize the Philippines’ long-term security and prosperity. Electing pro-China candidates poses significant risks, as it will lead to policies that compromise our territorial integrity, economic interests,” he said.
“Such candidates will become direct conduits for Chinese influence, which can jeopardize our national security and further empower a state that has repeatedly disregarded our sovereign rights and the international rules-based order. This is not just a political choice but a decision that can jeopardize our future and our nation’s standing in the global arena,” he added.
The survey also showed that only one percent of the respondents “trust” China while the majority of Filipinos trust the United States the most (79 percent), followed by Japan (50 percent), Canada (43 percent) and Australia (42 percent).
The results also showed that 18 percent trust the United Kingdom, followed by the European Union (15 percent), and South Korea (13 percent), while less than 10 percent trust Russia (7 percent), India (2 percent) and China (1 percent).
The same survey showed that only seven percent of Filipinos believe that China is a beneficial economic partner of the Philippines.
A majority believes the US is the most beneficial economic partner of the Philippines (66 percent), followed by Japan (43 percent), Australia (32 percent), Canada (31 percent), the UK (16 percent), South Korea (15 percent), EU (12 percent), Russia (11 percent), and India (8 percent).
“The Philippines remains committed to strengthening its partnerships with like-minded nations such as the United States, Japan, Canada, Australia, Great Britain, the Republic of Korea, and India. These countries have proven to be dependable allies, not only in ensuring regional stability but also in fostering economic growth,” Manhit said.
He added that the respondents also believed that by collaborating with nations that share the Philippines’ democratic values, “we can build a more resilient and prosperous Philippines under a rules-based world order that has sustainable the longest era of accelerating development and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”
