Filipinos back Manila's move to confront China over South China Sea

A majority of Filipinos back the Philippine government's move to challenge China's territorial claims over the South China Sea before an international arbitration court, according to the results of a poll released yesterday.

The poll also showed that Filipinos did not trust China much.

Philippine pollster Social Weather Stations said 81 per cent of Filipinos it surveyed backed last January's decision to challenge Beijing's claims in the South China Sea in the UN-backed tribunal.

Philippine foreign affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the results proved "that taking a principled stance, one that is based on respecting the rule of law and pursuing a peaceful settlement of disputes, strongly resonates with the Filipino people".

Partly commissioned by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the nationwide survey of 1,550 respondents was held from December 1 to 16.

Releasing the results, the president of the polling company, Mahar Mangahas, said the survey showed a high awareness level of the South China Sea dispute.

Some 73 per cent of respondents said they were aware of the dispute and 61 per cent said they knew the Philippines had filed a case before the UN tribunal.