House Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun of Zambales on Thursday highlighted a fresh nationwide survey showing strong public distrust of China and its perception as the Philippines’ greatest external threat.

Khonghun said the survey affirms President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s consistent stance in defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.

He pointed to the Tugon ng Masa (TNM) nationwide survey conducted by OCTA Research, which found that only 13 percent of adult Filipinos trust China, while 60 percent disagree and 26 percent remain undecided.

“The numbers are very clear. This is no longer a fringe view or an elite position,” Khonghun said. “When a strong majority of Filipinos express distrust and see China as the country’s biggest threat, leaders have a duty to listen and act responsibly.”

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro reiterated on Monday that President Marcos is standing firmly behind Philippine officials defending the country’s rights in the West Philippine Sea amid public attacks from China on Filipinos who speak out. She said the Chief Executive has been unequivocal: the Philippines will defend its territory and not yield “even an inch.”

The TNM survey, released as a public service, also showed that 79 percent of adult Filipinos now view China as the country’s greatest threat, up from 74 percent in July 2025. Russia and the United States trailed far behind at 5 percent and 4 percent, respectively.

“For me, this is democracy speaking,” Khonghun said. “Defending our sovereign rights is not warmongering. It is responding to what the Filipino people themselves are saying.”

Khonghun emphasized that the issue has real consequences for ordinary Filipinos, especially in food security.

“When our fishermen are harassed or prevented from fishing in our own waters, that loss eventually reaches the dining table,” he said. “Reduced catch means higher prices and fewer choices for Filipino families. This is why the West Philippine Sea matters to everyday life.”

According to OCTA Research, the TNM survey was conducted from 3 to 12 December 2025, using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult respondents nationwide. The survey has a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level, with subnational margins of error of ±6 percent for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Regionally, distrust of China remained consistently high, ranging from 56 percent to 63 percent, with the highest levels recorded in Balance Luzon and the National Capital Region. Trust levels varied from zero in Caraga to 31 percent in Davao Region.

Across socioeconomic classes, distrust was highest among Class E respondents at 70 percent, compared with 61 percent among Class ABC and 59 percent among Class D. OCTA also noted that skepticism toward China cut across age groups and educational levels, with distrust more pronounced among Filipinos aged 45 and above.