Lithuania Urges Unity Against China's Aggression in South China Sea

MANILA, Philippines — A campaign spearheaded by the Philippines to expose China’s aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea has effectively dismantled “the illusion of China being peaceful and friendly,” according to Lithuania’s defense chief. Speaking on Wednesday, she urged democratic nations to unite against what she described as an emerging axis of authoritarian countries led by China and Russia.

Since its inception in 2023, the campaign, branded by Manila as a “transparency initiative,” has involved publicizing images and accounts of China’s aggressive maneuvers in the contested waters. “I believe that, in this case, revealing to the world how China is harassing the Philippines’ navy and fishermen in their own waters is very important because it shatters the illusion of China being a peaceful and friendly neighbor,” Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė stated. “It’s nothing peaceful when you see water cannons being used against peaceful fishermen and there’s nothing peaceful about ramming the ships of the Philippines in the territorial waters of the Philippines,” she added.

Support for Philippine Defense Efforts

Šakalienė expressed her support for former Filipino senator Francis Tolentino during her visit to Manila for discussions aimed at strengthening defense ties between Lithuania and the Philippines. Tolentino was recently sanctioned by China for his outspoken criticism of Beijing’s aggressive actions and his legislative efforts to demarcate Philippine territorial zones, including disputed areas in the South China Sea claimed by China.

Šakalienė herself has faced sanctions from China, being banned from entering the country due to her strong criticism of China’s aggression and human rights record. “Welcome to the club,” she remarked in an interview with journalists, responding to China’s sanctions against Tolentino. “Talking about China’s crimes is what gets you into the blacklist.”

Rising Tensions in the South China Sea

Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, which commenced in mid-2022, the Philippines has invited both local and international journalists to accompany its coast guard and navy on patrols in the disputed South China Sea. These patrols have documented an alarming increase in confrontations, with China employing water cannons and dangerous maneuvers to assert its claims over the vital maritime trade route.

Despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims based on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, Beijing has refused to recognize the decision and continues its assertive actions. China, on the other hand, accuses the Philippines of provoking these clashes.

International Implications and Historical Context

Šakalienė highlighted similar aggressive tactics in the Baltic Sea, where Chinese ships have allegedly assisted Russian fleets in sabotaging undersea infrastructure, such as oil pipelines and data cables belonging to European nations like Lithuania. She warned that such acts of sabotage could potentially be replicated in Asia by China and Russia.

The South China Sea dispute involves multiple claimants, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, though they have not been as vocal as the Philippines in opposing China’s actions. The United States, while not a claimant, has repeatedly emphasized its commitment to defending the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, in the event of an armed attack.

Call for a United Front

Šakalienė stressed the importance of collective action against what she termed an authoritarian bloc comprising China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, which she views as a significant threat to global democracy. “Pressure, coercion, and threats are their usual methods of operation,” she noted, underscoring the need for democratic countries to stand firm together.

“It’s crucial for countries to band together and fight an emerging authoritarian bloc consisting of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea which is a threat to democracy.”

The call for unity comes at a time when geopolitical tensions are rising globally, with authoritarian regimes increasingly challenging the international order. As the Philippines continues its transparency initiative, the world watches closely to see how democratic nations will respond to the growing challenges in the South China Sea and beyond.