China not to compromise on national sovereignty: President Xi
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Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech during the Celebration Ceremony of the 95th Anniversary of the Communist Party in Beijing on July 1, 2016. ©AFP
Chinese President Xi Jinping says Beijing will never compromise on its sovereignty ahead of an international court hearing over the territorial dispute with its neighbors.
“No foreign country... should expect us to swallow the bitter pill of harm to our national sovereignty, security or development interests,” Xi told ranks of top officials during the ruling Communist Party’s 95th anniversary on Friday.
He noted that the Communist Party should maintain full power all over China, strengthen military and play a greater role in the world.
“We will not show up at other people’s front doors to flex our muscles. That does not show strength or scare anyone,” Xi also said in an apparent reference to US military build-up in the disputed region.
The remarks came as a little-known international tribunal based in The Hague has said it would hand down a ruling over the South China Sea on July 12.
The case, which was brought by the Philippines, challenges China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea.
China said the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) does not have jurisdiction over the issue and boycotted the proceedings.
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