Malacañang was elated over Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė's recognition of the Philippines' transparency initiative in dealing with China's actions in the West Philippine Sea.

Šakalienė said that the country's transparency initiative in documenting and reporting harassment cases by the Chinese military against Filipino fishermen and vessels has become the >>“golden standard.”

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said “it is heartwarming to hear” such an impression from a foreign official.

“Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa bansang Lithuania at kay Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė, kung tama po ang aking pagkaka-pronounce, at nakikita po ang ginagawang trabaho ng Pangulo, kung paano ba ipagtanggol ng Pangulo at ng administrasyong kasalukuyan ang karapatan ng mga mangingisda natin at iba pa nating mga kababayan patungkol po dito sa West Philippine Sea (We are grateful to the country of Lithuania and to Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė—if I’m pronouncing that correctly. They recognize the efforts of the President and how he and the current administration are defending the rights of our fishermen and other fellow citizens regarding the West Philippine Sea),” Castro said in a Palace briefing on Friday, July 4.

“Masarap pong pakinggan na mula sa isang banyaga ang nakikita nila at nari-recognize nila ang mga ginagawa ng Pangulo at ng administrasyon – masarap po iyon pakinggan (It’s heartwarming to hear such recognition coming from a foreigner—it's truly uplifting to know they see and acknowledge what the President and the administration are doing),”Castro added.

The Palace official said what's disheartening are Filipinos, including public officials, who fail to stand by the country in relation to the situation in the contested West Philippine Sea.

“Ang masakit pong pakinggan kapwa natin Pilipino o kaya Filipino public servant ang hindi magkaroon ng stance patungkol sa West Philippine Sea at nakokondena pa ang ibang mga ginagawa ng ating Pangulo pagdating sa pagtatanggol sa mga mangingisda at karapatan natin sa West Philippine Sea (What’s disheartening, however, is when it’s our fellow Filipinos or Filipino public servants who fail to take a stance on the West Philippine Sea and even condemn the actions of our President in defending our fishermen and our rights in the West Philippine Sea),” Castro said.

The Lithuanian defense minister also said that the country's efforts can also be “very useful globally” because it shows other countries that are facing the same political challenges what can be done.