https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-ambassador-to-israel-found-dead-in-his-home-11589726373
Chinese Ambassador to Israel Found Dead in His Home
Du Wei, 57, was a career diplomat who had arrived in Israel in February
Du Wei was a career diplomat who was Beijing’s envoy to Ukraine from 2016-2019 before his posting to Israel.PHOTO: CHINESE EMBASSY IN ISRAEL/REUTERS
By
Felicia Schwartz
Updated May 17, 2020 11:53 am ET
China’s ambassador to Israel was found dead Sunday in his residence north of Tel Aviv, Israeli officials said.
The cause of Ambassador Du Wei’s death wasn’t immediately clear. Police were on the scene at his home in the beachside city of Herzliya to investigate it, but officials said initial indications didn’t suggest foul play. Israeli media reported he might have died of a heart attack.
Mr. Du, 57, was a career diplomat who had been actively publicizing China’s positions on the coronavirus pandemic since arriving in Israel in February.
Chinese state media reported late Sunday that preliminary evidence suggests that Mr. Du died of health complications, but said that further investigation was still required.
China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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Israel has of late been caught in the escalating tensions between China and the U.S. The Trump administration has pressed Israel to take a tougher line on China, particularly on Beijing’s investments in Israeli infrastructure and companies.
Last year, Israel set up an interagency government body to oversee sensitive commercial deals involving foreign companies akin to the U.S.’s Committee on Foreign Investment, or Cfius. The panel is in early stages of operation. But Israel hasn’t echoed the U.S. in criticism of China’s handling of the pandemic.
While receptive to American concerns, Israel also sees China as an important market for Israeli companies and products as well as a source of foreign investment.
A forensic expert walks to the residence of China’s ambassador to Israel near Tel Aviv on Sunday.PHOTO: JACK GUEZ/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
U.S. officials are particularly concerned about a Hong Kong-based company’s bid for the construction of a $1.5 billion desalination plant near the Israeli military base of Palmachim. Israeli officials have said they would review whether the company can bid, with the winner of the contract scheduled to be announced on May 24.
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“We do not want the Chinese Communist Party to have access to Israeli infrastructure, Israeli communication systems, all of the things that put Israeli citizens at risk and in turn put the capacity for America to work alongside Israel on important projects at risk as well,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Israel’s public broadcaster while in Jerusalem last week.
The Chinese Embassy in Israel criticized Mr. Pompeo’s comments when he visited last week. Mr. Pompeo also accused China of not sharing and covering up information about the coronavirus.
“We should let facts speak for themselves, and not be misled by lies,” China’s embassy said in a statement, adding also that “China has never covered up the outbreak...There is no ground to accuse China of obfuscating the information.”
The embassy also rebutted Mr. Pompeo’s concerns about Chinese investment in Israel, saying “over the past few years, he has been labeling Chinese products, investments and personnel with the tag of ‘security risks,’ without producing any concrete evidence.”
So what now then.
Chinese Ambassador to Israel Found Dead in His Home
Du Wei, 57, was a career diplomat who had arrived in Israel in February
Du Wei was a career diplomat who was Beijing’s envoy to Ukraine from 2016-2019 before his posting to Israel.PHOTO: CHINESE EMBASSY IN ISRAEL/REUTERS
By
Felicia Schwartz
Updated May 17, 2020 11:53 am ET
China’s ambassador to Israel was found dead Sunday in his residence north of Tel Aviv, Israeli officials said.
The cause of Ambassador Du Wei’s death wasn’t immediately clear. Police were on the scene at his home in the beachside city of Herzliya to investigate it, but officials said initial indications didn’t suggest foul play. Israeli media reported he might have died of a heart attack.
Mr. Du, 57, was a career diplomat who had been actively publicizing China’s positions on the coronavirus pandemic since arriving in Israel in February.
Chinese state media reported late Sunday that preliminary evidence suggests that Mr. Du died of health complications, but said that further investigation was still required.
China’s Foreign Ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israel has of late been caught in the escalating tensions between China and the U.S. The Trump administration has pressed Israel to take a tougher line on China, particularly on Beijing’s investments in Israeli infrastructure and companies.
Last year, Israel set up an interagency government body to oversee sensitive commercial deals involving foreign companies akin to the U.S.’s Committee on Foreign Investment, or Cfius. The panel is in early stages of operation. But Israel hasn’t echoed the U.S. in criticism of China’s handling of the pandemic.
While receptive to American concerns, Israel also sees China as an important market for Israeli companies and products as well as a source of foreign investment.
A forensic expert walks to the residence of China’s ambassador to Israel near Tel Aviv on Sunday.PHOTO: JACK GUEZ/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE/GETTY IMAGES
U.S. officials are particularly concerned about a Hong Kong-based company’s bid for the construction of a $1.5 billion desalination plant near the Israeli military base of Palmachim. Israeli officials have said they would review whether the company can bid, with the winner of the contract scheduled to be announced on May 24.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We do not want the Chinese Communist Party to have access to Israeli infrastructure, Israeli communication systems, all of the things that put Israeli citizens at risk and in turn put the capacity for America to work alongside Israel on important projects at risk as well,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Israel’s public broadcaster while in Jerusalem last week.
The Chinese Embassy in Israel criticized Mr. Pompeo’s comments when he visited last week. Mr. Pompeo also accused China of not sharing and covering up information about the coronavirus.
“We should let facts speak for themselves, and not be misled by lies,” China’s embassy said in a statement, adding also that “China has never covered up the outbreak...There is no ground to accuse China of obfuscating the information.”
The embassy also rebutted Mr. Pompeo’s concerns about Chinese investment in Israel, saying “over the past few years, he has been labeling Chinese products, investments and personnel with the tag of ‘security risks,’ without producing any concrete evidence.”
So what now then.
