MANILA – Lithuania’s Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė has praised the Philippines for its campaign to expose China’s aggressive behavior in the South China Sea, calling it a bold move that shatters China’s “peaceful neighbor” image. She emphasized the need for democracies to unite against rising authoritarian threats.
Speaking in Manila during defense talks, Šakalienė commended the Philippines’ transparency initiative, which began in 2023 and includes releasing videos and images of China’s hostile actions against Filipino fishermen and navy personnel. She stressed that “using water cannons and ramming ships is not peaceful behavior.”
Šakalienė also stood in support of former Filipino senator Francis Tolentino, who has faced sanctions from China—just like Šakalienė and her family. She described China’s blacklisting tactics as a way to silence critics, saying, “Talking about China’s crimes is what gets you into the blacklist.”
Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the Philippines has allowed local and international media to join its naval patrols, capturing China’s increasing use of dangerous tactics to push its maritime claims. These confrontations have sparked global concern over safety in one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
Šakalienė warned that China, along with Russia, poses a serious threat to global stability. She accused Chinese ships of aiding suspected Russian sabotage in the Baltic Sea by damaging critical infrastructure like oil pipelines and communication cables—acts she fears could also happen in Asia.
As tensions in the region continue, Šakalienė urged democratic nations to stand together against an emerging bloc of authoritarian powers, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. “It’s not just about one region—it’s about protecting democracy worldwide,” she said.