China still least trusted country among Filipinos — SWS survey

MANILA, Philippines – China remains to be the least trusted country among Filipinos, plunging lower with a net trust rating of -33, according to the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results released on Wednesday.

According to the polling firm, China’s -33 rating obtained this September 2019, which translates to “bad,” is nine points lower than the -24 score last June.  This is the second lowest score since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in June 2016.

This was despite warmer relations between the two countries under Duterte’s independent foreign policy.

Meanwhile, the United States (US) remains to be the most trusted country, obtaining a +72 score or “excellent.” The US is followed by Australia (+37), Japan (+35), Singapore (+26), and Vietnam (0).

SWS said the survey was conducted from September 27 to 30, using face-to-face interviews with 1,800 adults, segregated into 600 for Balance Luzon and Mindanao, and 300 each for Metro Manila and Visayas.

Respondents were asked whether their trust towards a specific country was high, slightly high, not sure, low, or very low, or whether they have no information about the said countries.

The survey was conducted months after an incident in the West Philippine Sea where a local fishing boat sank after a collision with a Chinese vessel. The 22 male crew of the fishing boat were left at sea and were eventually rescued by a Vietnamese ship.

Edited by JE