So, was he silent on issues of a political nature as both Chinese officialdom and his foreign defenders wished?
Russia, one of Mr. Assad's most ardent foreign defenders, has in recent weeks suggested it was open to a negotiated transition that would ease him out of power.
By portraying itself as the target of foreign subversion and defender of the homeland, the government may be trying to prepare for unrest if there is further economic deterioration.
He became a popular hero by dismantling a fund meant primarily for paying debt in order to boost social spending and was soon forced out (under pressure from Ecuador's foreign creditors, his defenders allege).
A teenage blogger, brought into court chained and blindfolded, was sentenced Monday to five years in jail on charges of revealing information to a foreign country, rights defenders said.
The foreign investor visa has defenders.
And its management strategy finds defenders among foreign shareholders.
Defenders of foreign aid would reply that past efforts have contributed greatly to the enormous gains in life expectancy that the professor celebrates.
Some of Germany's leading beers have been sold into foreign hands, and to defenders of national pride, something of Germany's birthright has been sold with them.
Whatever is hybrid, fluid and unpoliced about English delights him.English has never had its Académie Française, but over the centuries it has not lacked furious defenders against foreign "corruption".
