77% of Filipinos favor joint patrols with allies
AT least 77 out of 100 Filipinos favor the Philippines holding joint exercises and patrols with its allies to help assert the country's rights over the West Philippine Sea, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations. The Stratbase ADRi-commissioned poll, conducted from Feb. 15 to 19, showed that the 77 percent of the 1,800 respondents agreed that 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 country's territorial and economic rights in the West Philippine Sea. Respondents from the National Capital Region gave the highest support at 84 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon at 82 percent, Visayas at 77 percent and Mindanao at 64 percent. At a forum in Makati City on Friday, Stratbase ADRi President Dindo Manhit said the survey result signals the need for the country to further reinforce its defense posture and work more closely with allies. "It tells us really, where we stand as a nation. We know who our friends are. We know that we might [not be] as strong as we could be, but our strength is with our friends and allies," Manhit said. The survey also revealed that 78 percent prefer candidates "who believe that the Philippines must assert our rights against China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea." In an interview, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla assured the public that Manila would further engage and strengthen military cooperation with allies and partners. Efforts to increase maritime patrols as well as joint drills, Padilla said, would continue "not just in the West Philippine Sea, but the whole country." Beyond traditional partners, the country is also looking at forging "greater alliances" with other states such as India, she said. In Beijing, on Thursday, China accused the Philippines of being a pawn of the United States to stir up trouble in the region. Speaking at a press briefing, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the Philippines of allowing itself to be used by the US to stage a smear campaign against China. "For every move on the sea by the Philippines, there is a screenplay written by external forces, the show is livestreamed by Western media, and the plot is invariably to smear China," Wang Yi, a leading member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, said. He said that people are not interested in watching the same performance again and again, and stressed that China will continue to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, and maritime rights and interests under the law. "When managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal) and Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal), we will also take into account the actual conditions out of humanitarian spirit. But let me make it clear that infringement and provocation will backfire, and those acting as others' chess pieces are bound to be discarded," Wang said. He noted that last year, with the joint efforts by China and Asean countries, the South China Sea remained the safest and busiest waters for international navigation and overflight. Wang said China signed with Indonesia an intergovernmental document on maritime joint development and launched a bilateral dialogue with Malaysia on the management of maritime issues. Wang said the key to good neighborliness, lasting peace and security in the South China Sea is to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. "We have full confidence in the prospect of concluding the COC (Code of Conduct). China is ready to work with Asean countries to step up communication, stay clear of disturbances, and build consensus for an early conclusion of the COC, to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation," he said. As early as May 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had said the Philippines is committed to the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. "We must avoid the ascendance of might and the aggressive revision of the international order. In an increasingly volatile world, we require constraints on power contained by the force of the rule of law," he said. On Thursday, Speaker Martin Romualdez reiterated that the West Philippine Sea belonged to the Philippines, and defending it is a matter of national survival. Romualdez made the remarks during ceremonies for his promotion to vice admiral in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary. "Hindi tayo papayag na maging dehado sa sarili nating dagat. Hindi tayo magpapatalo sa sariling teritoryo (We will not allow ourselves to be disadvantaged in our own waters. We will also not allow to be losers in our own territory). The West Philippine Sea is not just a political issue; it is a national cause, a matter of survival, dignity and sovereignty," Romualdez said in his speech.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
AT least 77 out of 100 Filipinos favor the Philippines holding joint exercises and patrols with its allies to help assert the country's rights over the West Philippine Sea, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations.
The Stratbase ADRi-commissioned poll, conducted from Feb. 15 to 19, showed that the 77 percent of the 1,800 respondents agreed that 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 country's territorial and economic rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Respondents from the National Capital Region gave the highest support at 84 percent, followed by the rest of Luzon at 82 percent, Visayas at 77 percent and Mindanao at 64 percent.
At a forum in Makati City on Friday, Stratbase ADRi President Dindo Manhit said the survey result signals the need for the country to further reinforce its defense posture and work more closely with allies.
"It tells us really, where we stand as a nation. We know who our friends are. We know that we might [not be] as strong as we could be, but our strength is with our friends and allies," Manhit said.
The survey also revealed that 78 percent prefer candidates "who believe that the Philippines must assert our rights against China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea."
In an interview, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman Col. Francel Margareth Padilla assured the public that Manila would further engage and strengthen military cooperation with allies and partners.
Efforts to increase maritime patrols as well as joint drills, Padilla said, would continue "not just in the West Philippine Sea, but the whole country."
Beyond traditional partners, the country is also looking at forging "greater alliances" with other states such as India, she said.
In Beijing, on Thursday, China accused the Philippines of being a pawn of the United States to stir up trouble in the region.
Speaking at a press briefing, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the Philippines of allowing itself to be used by the US to stage a smear campaign against China.
"For every move on the sea by the Philippines, there is a screenplay written by external forces, the show is livestreamed by Western media, and the plot is invariably to smear China," Wang Yi, a leading member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, said.
He said that people are not interested in watching the same performance again and again, and stressed that China will continue to safeguard its territorial sovereignty, and maritime rights and interests under the law.
"When managing the situation at Ren'ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal) and Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal), we will also take into account the actual conditions out of humanitarian spirit. But let me make it clear that infringement and provocation will backfire, and those acting as others' chess pieces are bound to be discarded," Wang said.
He noted that last year, with the joint efforts by China and Asean countries, the South China Sea remained the safest and busiest waters for international navigation and overflight.
Wang said China signed with Indonesia an intergovernmental document on maritime joint development and launched a bilateral dialogue with Malaysia on the management of maritime issues.
Wang said the key to good neighborliness, lasting peace and security in the South China Sea is to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
"We have full confidence in the prospect of concluding the COC (Code of Conduct). China is ready to work with Asean countries to step up communication, stay clear of disturbances, and build consensus for an early conclusion of the COC, to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation," he said.
As early as May 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had said the Philippines is committed to the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
"We must avoid the ascendance of might and the aggressive revision of the international order. In an increasingly volatile world, we require constraints on power contained by the force of the rule of law," he said.
On Thursday, Speaker Martin Romualdez reiterated that the West Philippine Sea belonged to the Philippines, and defending it is a matter of national survival.
Romualdez made the remarks during ceremonies for his promotion to vice admiral in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
"Hindi tayo papayag na maging dehado sa sarili nating dagat. Hindi tayo magpapatalo sa sariling teritoryo (We will not allow ourselves to be disadvantaged in our own waters. We will also not allow to be losers in our own territory). The West Philippine Sea is not just a political issue; it is a national cause, a matter of survival, dignity and sovereignty," Romualdez said in his speech.
