Pinoys see strong, stable Philippines-Japan relations – poll

MANILA, Philippines — Seven in 10 Filipinos view the relationship of the Philippines with Japan as strong and stable, according to a recent survey conducted by the OCTA Research group.

The survey, commissioned by the Japanese embassy, found that 70 percent of the respondents perceive the relations between the two countries as “good” or “very good.”

Only one percent described the relationship as “poor,” while 24 percent said it was “neither good nor poor.” The remaining five percent said they do not know.

“Viewed in the context of more than 70 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan, the survey findings suggest that the partnership has matured into one supported not only by diplomatic and economic cooperation but also by public confidence and social familiarity,” OCTA said in its report.

The survey found that 79 percent of the respondents either “strongly trust” or “somewhat trust” Japan.

Only four percent distrust the East Asian nation, while 17 percent were ambivalent.

Asked about the Japanese people, 74 percent of adult Filipinos said they trust them, while only six percent were distrustful. The remaining 20 percent said they cannot say if they trust the Japanese people or not.

“Across multiple indicators – including trust in Japan as a country, trust in the Japanese people, and overall perceptions of bilateral relations – the findings reveal broadly positive attitudes toward Japan across Philippine society,” OCTA said in its analysis of the results.

“The high levels of trust toward Japan observed in the survey are also notable in the context of the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Indo-Pacific. Strong public confidence in Japan suggests that the Philippines’ expanding partnership with Japan… is supported not only by government policy but also by a broad base of public goodwill among Filipinos,” it said.