Stronger alliances, more joint patrols in West Philippine Sea backed – SWS

March 10, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A large majority of Filipinos support the conduct of more joint patrols and military exercises to defend the country’s territorial rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), a recent survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The Feb. 15 to 19 survey, commissioned by the Stratbase Group, also asked respondents if they support stronger alliances with other countries in response to China’s aggression in the region.

Some 77 percent of the respondents agreed to the statement, “The Philippine government must further strengthen its alliance with other countries through joint patrols, joint sails and joint military exercises to assert and defend the Philippines’ territorial and economic rights in the West Philippine Sea.”

It showed 59 percent who “strongly agreed” and 18 percent who “somewhat agreed” with the statement.

Only nine percent disagreed, while 14 percent were undecided.

Based on the poll, support for stronger alliances and the conduct of more joint patrols and military exercises was highest among those in Metro Manila at 84 percent.

It was followed by those in the rest of Luzon at 82 percent, Visayas at 77 percent and Mindanao at 64 percent.

Reacting to the survey results, Stratbase president Dindo Manhit highlighted the importance of deepening the strategic collaboration between the Philippines, Japan and the United States.

“The Philippines must continue working closely with Japan and the US to ensure that international law, particularly the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, is respected. The reaffirmation of our trilateral commitments could not come at a more critical time, as geopolitical risks continue to escalate, especially in the maritime domain,” he said during a recent forum.

“Today’s geopolitical architecture calls for turning risks into strategic opportunities. By reinforcing our trilateral cooperation, we can chart a future where the Indo-Pacific remains free, open, and secure,” he added.

SWS earlier confirmed conducting the commissioned poll, which also asked respondents if they would vote for candidates who will assert the country’s rights against China’s aggression in WPS.

Some 78 percent of the respondents said they prefer “a candidate who believes that the Philippines must assert our rights against China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea,” compared to 22 percent who said that the country should not asserts its rights in the region.

A separate survey question also showed that 77 percent of Filipino voters would support candidates advocating for national security and sovereignty in WPS.

The February SWS survey had 1,800 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus 2.31 percent.