A recent online survey among regional affairs experts showed that while the Philippines looks to China to provide the "alternative regional leadership in the wake of perceived US disengagement," it does not trust its intentions. The Philippines views China as the most influential country economically (61.3 percent), politically and strategically (45.2 percent). But on the other hand, the survey also showed Philippines' level of distrust on China is high. The Singapore-based regional center had 111 respondents from the Philippines out of a total of 1,008 Southeast Asians survey respondents. The respondents are regional experts and stakeholders from the policy, research, business, civil society, and media communities.

Source: Philippine Star February 22, 2019 08:13 UTC