"copies", "knockoffs", "imitations", ...
I think not just the Chinese, even some of us here, who are not Chinese but enjoy watching the PLA's modernisation, tend to dislike the use of such terms. A reason maybe the fact that we've seen more then enough instances of such "name calling" resulting in less than favourable outcomes: and derail any preceding friendly intentions.
At the end of the day, we all know one party (not involved in this forum... maybe?) who cared less than nothing on what names other tried to stick on them. Yes, that'll be the PLA. They've approached these with a very practical sense thus far: they needed something that work, they'll find something that'll do the job, within their means.
On a side note, I don't know about you, but the speed at which the PLA (and the Chinese military industry) is coming out with new equipments is really fast to me! Just look at the current Zhuhai Air Show. It is like, someone else have this equipment that the PLA don't have, and the PLA can't buy them, then they'll build it instead. Example: CX-1, Red Arrow.
On the other hand, the equipment the Russian can or are willing to display (appears to me to...) have more or less frozen since the 90's. Do hope to see more new designs from Russia in the not too distance future; I truly enjoy reading about and seeing photos of the former Soviet Union's equipments back then.
Jovian