Manila: Nearly nine in 10 Filipinos express a strong desire for the Philippines to collaborate with like-minded nations to defend the West Philippine Sea, according to a recent Pulse Asia survey. This overwhelming sentiment comes as the country approaches the 10th anniversary of the landmark 2016 Arbitral Ruling that invalidated China's extensive claims over the critical maritime area. According to Philippines News Agency, the survey, commissioned by Stratbase Institute, was released on Wednesday, ahead of the Philippine Independence Day celebrations. The poll asked 1,500 respondents from May 3-7, 2026, if they agreed with partnering with countries like the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and South Korea in securing the West Philippine Sea in alignment with the 2016 decision. A significant 86 percent of respondents nationwide expressed agreement, with Mindanao displaying the highest positive sentiment at 91 percent, and the National Capital Region following closely with 90 percent. Furthermore, the survey revealed that only 3 percent of participants disagreed with the notion, while 11 percent remained undecided. When asked to identify specific countries or organizations for potential collaboration, 84 percent of Filipinos favored working with the United States, followed by Japan at 67 percent, Australia at 57 percent, Canada at 51 percent, and South Korea at 44 percent. Support for collaboration with the United States was notably high in the National Capital Region at 86 percent, with similar sentiments observed in Balance Luzon and Mindanao at 85 percent. This marks a slight increase in preference for the United States and Japan compared to a previous Stratbase-commissioned survey conducted in December 2025. Interestingly, support for collaboration with China was notably influenced by respondents from Mindanao, where 23 percent indicated a willingness to engage with Beijing in defending the West Philippine Sea. This region is critical, as it encompasses the Philippines' maritime zones from the wester n coastlines, including the Luzon Sea, Bajo de Masinloc, and the Kalayaan Island Group, which China partially claims under its "10-dash line." Stratbase Institute president and CEO Victor Andres Manhit emphasized that the survey results underscore the importance Filipinos place on upholding the 2016 arbitral award and the significance of international cooperation in preserving national independence. "As we mark a decade of our victory at The Hague, we must do our part in defending our hard-won triumph so that future generations inherit a nation that is free, secure, and respected in the international community," Manhit stated.