Xi's Army Day speech signals stricter defense of China's interests: Russian expe ...

Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent speech at the Army Day parade reflects "a gradual transition to a stricter defense of its interests" in the world, a Russian expert has said.

"That is why he chose such a strictly military entourage, and, wearing a military uniform in front of the troops, made a statement that China would never pursue an expansionist policy, but will never allow anyone to tear away any morsel of Chinese territory," said Vasily Kashin, research fellow of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Xi's speeches at the Army Day parade on Sunday and at the celebration for the 90th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday illustrate the Chinese leadership's firm stance against separatism, Kashin noted, particularly regarding the issue of Taiwan.

The U.S. State Department approved an arms sales to Taiwan valued at about 1.42 billion U.S. dollars in late June.

"It is expected that Taiwan will receive more weapons in the foreseeable future, including, probably, F-35 fighters," said Kashin.

The arms sales was opposed by the Chinese Foreign Ministry as a violation of "international laws as well as the basic norms of international relations."

Xi said Tuesday that "no one should expect us to swallow bitter fruit that is harmful to our sovereignty, security or development interests."