Lithuanian defense chief hails Manila’s strategy, calls out China’s ‘gaslighting’ in West PH Sea
Metro Manila, Philippines - Lithuania’s Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene has strongly backed the Philippines in its ongoing maritime row with China, even calling Beijing's actions in the West Philippine Sea as “gaslighting,” while hailing Manila’s transparency efforts as a “gold standard” in countering aggression.
In an exclusive interview with NewsWatch Plus during her official visit to Manila, Sakaliene praised the government’s strategy of publicly documenting and exposing Chinese maritime harassment, including ramming, shadowing, and the use of water cannons against Filipino vessels.
“You showed to the whole world, the international community, that China is gaslighting you, gaslighting your people,” Sakaliene said.
Manila and Beijing have been at odds over claims in the West Philippine Sea, where Chinese coast guard and militia vessels have repeatedly harassed Filipino fishermen and obstructed resupply missions to Philippine outposts within the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Philippines has responded by ramping up its transparency, including real-time releases of footage and diplomatic protests - a move Sakaliene said has become a model for other democracies facing similar tactics from authoritarian governments.
“The transparency initiative by the Philippines is a golden standard now of how you should deal with violence like that,” she said.
Sakaliene’s visit marked a milestone in the deepening relationship between Lithuania and the Philippines, two countries on opposite sides of the globe but facing parallel challenges from larger, more aggressive neighbors.
“It symbolizes even more than opening a new chapter in the cooperation and relationship between Lithuania and the Philippines,” she said. “It signalizes very clearly that the Indo-Pacific and Europe have visible needs to cooperate more.”
She described China’s maritime coercion and Russia’s hybrid warfare in the Baltic region as part of a broader authoritarian playbook, warning of a growing “axis” between China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
“We are now basically a triangle of democratic regions… in dire need to stand together against the growing pressure from authoritarian regimes,” Sakaliene added.
The Lithuanian defense chief also underscored the need for stronger coordination among democratic allies in maritime security, information warfare, and joint defense initiatives.
