Most Filipinos have said that the Chinese government “concealed” vital information about COVID-19, according to a survey released by the Social Weather Station yesterday.
Conducted from July 3 to 5, the survey showed that three out of five respondents believed the accusations of other foreign governments that China did not immediately share coronavirus-related information to the rest of the world.
Sixty-one percent said they believe that China committed a cover-up (28% saying they “strongly believe” and 33% saying they “somewhat believe”) while 23% said they do not think the accusations are true (13% saying they “somewhat not believe” plus 10% who say they “strongly not believe”). The rest of the respondents are undecided on the issue.
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An Associated Press report in June said that China delayed releasing information about COVID-19, an act that frustrated officials of the World Health Organization. The Chinese government was also behind the silencing of the late doctor Li Wenliang, who first warned his colleagues about the coronavirus that was spreading in his hometown of Wuhan.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has accused Beijing of covering up the early days of COVID-19’s spread in Wuhan, an allegation that China has denied.
The SWS survey also showed that 7 out of 10 respondents said that Beijing should be held accountable for not immediately telling the world about COVID-19. This is composed of 50% who “strongly agree” and 26% who said they “somewhat agree.” On the other hand, 15% of respondents do not believe that the Chinese Communist Party should be held accountable, with 8% saying they “somewhat disagree” and 7% saying they “strongly disagree.”
The same survey also covered the issue surrounding China’s invasion of the West Philippine Sea, an act seen as unjust by most Filipinos. Seven out of 10 Filipinos said that President Rodrigo Duterte’s government, which enjoys a cozy relationship with Beijing, should assert the country’s rights over the disputed territory. Four out of five respondents also said that the Philippines should work with other democratic countries so that it could defend the area from other invading forces.
China has declared the West Philippine Sea as part of Hainan province, despite a 2016 decision by a Netherlands court that invalidated Beijing’s claims over the area.
SWS interviewed 1,555 Filipinos aged 18 years old and above for the survey, which was commissioned by the think tank Stratbase ADR Institute.
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