According to a recent survey conducted by OCTA, a majority of Filipinos believe that the Marcos administration should prioritize diplomacy or other peaceful methods to assert the country’s territorial rights over the West Philippine Sea.
The survey, which was conducted from July 22 to 27 and involved 1,200 participants, revealed that 70% of respondents favor a peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute.
In addition to diplomacy, Filipinos also emphasized the importance of military action, with 65% of participants considering it a top priority.
The survey also highlighted the need to modernize and strengthen the Philippine military’s capability to protect the country’s territory, which was deemed a priority by 61% of respondents.
It’s worth noting that the survey was not sponsored, and it has a margin of error of ±3% at a 95% confidence level.
The Senate has previously passed a resolution condemning China’s ongoing harassment of Filipino fisherfolk and its persistent incursions in the West Philippine Sea.
To address the situation, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is considering deploying Navy reservists to increase its presence in the disputed waters.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 14, 2023
