Filipinos split on Marcos admin’s handling of China dispute - survey
A recent survey shows that Filipinos are divided on the Marcos administration's handling of the West Philippine Sea dispute with China. While opinions on the government's effectiveness are split, a strong majority favors a diplomatic approach.
Why it matters
Public sentiment on foreign policy is a key indicator of political stability and national priorities in the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos are split on the Marcos administration's handling of the West Philippine Sea dispute with China, but nearly three in four want the government to prioritize diplomacy, a Momentum Research survey showed.
The August 2026 survey found that 45.2% of respondents thought the administration was handling the dispute effectively, while 45% said it was not. The rest were undecided or declined to answer.
On dealing with China's actions in the West Philippine Sea, 73.3% favored diplomacy. Some 19.1% disagreed, while 7.5% were unsure or declined to answer.
Metro Manila had the highest support for diplomacy at 86.9%, followed by Generation Z at 79% and opposition-aligned respondents at 76.6%.
In Mindanao, more respondents said the administration was handling the dispute poorly than well, at 46.4% and 35.8%, respectively. Another 17.7% were unsure or declined to answer.
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