39% for, 16% against doing business with China – SWS

Four in 10 Filipinos ( 39 percent) agree that the Philippines should do business with China despite the continued tension between the two countries over disputed territories in the South China Sea, according to a survey by Social Weather Stations (SWS) and TV5 released on Wednesday.

The Bilang Pilipino SWS mobile survey conducted last March 23 with 1,200 respondents asked: “How much do you agree or disagree with this statement: The Philippines should find ways to do business with China, regardless of what happens in the South China Sea?”

The results: 13 percent “strongly” agreed, while 26 percent “somewhat” agreed – for a total of 39 percent who agreed.

On the other hand, 16 percent “strongly” disagreed, while 12 percent “somewhat” disagreed – for a total of 28 percent who disagreed.

Those who were undecided totaled 26 percent.

Those who said they responded that didn’t know were 7 percent.

SWS described as as “moderate “the net agreement score of +11 (39 percent wh agreed minus 28 percent who disagreed). Net satisfaction ratings of +50 and above are “very strong”; +30 to +49, “strong”; +10 to +29, “moderate”, +9 to -9, “neutral”; -10 to -29, “poor”; -30 to -49, “weak”; and -50 and below, “very weak”.

Net agreement with finding ways to do business with China, regardless of what happens in the South China Sea, was highest in the rest of Luzon outside Metro Manila at +19 (43 percent agree m ininus 24 percent disagree), followed by Mindanao at +9 (35 percent agree, 26 percent disagree), Visayas at +1 (35 percent agree, 33 percent disagree), and Metro Manila at net zero (37 percent agree, 37 percent disagree).