China's newly assertive diplomacy is an effort to safeguard its core interests and shouldn't be interpreted as combativeness, the country's foreign minister said Sunday. Questioned about foreign misunderstandings of China, Yang Jiechi said critics who label Beijing as "more and more tough" don't recognize it is just defending its sovereignty, security and development interests. "Sticking to one's principles and being 'tough' or not, are two completely different matters," Mr. Yang said at a press conference held on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the National People's Congress, China's legislature.  In an apparent swipe at the United States, Mr. Yang said critics were accusing Beijing of being difficult, while "taking it for granted that the interests of other countries can be undermined." – Associated Press