MANILA, May 5 -- China's latest statement to justify its illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is a "charade" and only aims to divide Filipinos over the issue, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. said on Sunday.

"This charade must stop. I am issuing this statement to generate awareness on this clear attempt by China to advance another falsehood in order to divide our people and distract us from their unlawful presence and actions in our EEZ (exclusive economic zone)," he said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila on Saturday claimed that the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command (Wescom) made repeated confirmations that the "new model" for the handling of raising tensions in the WPS have...