The body of the Chinese ambassador to Israel has been returned to China for burial. He was found dead at his home in Tel Aviv on May 17. The death is believed to be natural causes but a number of loose ends have called the incident into question. An investigation into the death has been launched by Israeli police.
New ambassador was in quarantine for Covid-19
The newly appointed ambassador arrived in February and immediately went into “mandatory self-quarantine.” On Sunday, 57-year-old Du Wei was “found dead lying in his bed.” He apparently “died in his sleep of heart failure” but officials aren’t entirely certain. Du had a shady past which may have been shadowing him.
Before arriving in Israel, Du was posted to the Ukraine. His death came only a few short days after a controversial diplomatic visit by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was furious about Israel’s continued cooperation with China. Specifically, Pompeo was opposed to “the expansion of Chinese investments in Israel.” The Chinese government pushed back hard on Pompeo’s rhetoric then their ambassador suddenly passed away.
Over in Israel, “conspiracy theories have spread,” Jerusalem Post reports. “The death has been associated with Du Wei’s activities in Ukraine, it was assumed that he died of coronavirus and even that the Chinese allegedly covered their tracks.”
China starting their own investigation
China thinks the death looks a little suspicious too, only they are blaming it on America. They think Pompeo did it. They are sending “experts to Israel to investigate” the death of the ambassador. They claim it “casts a shadow over Israeli-Chinese relations.” the Chinese are especially worried that information may emerge indicating “the diplomat’s death was not accidental.”
The Chinese find it highly suspicious that Pompeo was just there. After all, his entire mission was “an attempt to persuade the Israelis not to trade or invest with China.” Pompeo was previously on the record threatening to reduce “intelligence sharing and co-location of security facilities” unless Israel curbs “its economic cooperation” with China. John Bolton wanted them to cut all ties with ZTE and Huawei over the security risks.
Long before the death of the ambassador, the Pentagon has been warning “against increasing Chinese investment in strategically important infrastructure projects in Israel.” The Defense Department considers China a threat to Israel’s national security. “the Chinese may be able to track the movement and service of American ships thanks to Israel,” American experts warn.