Preliminary Finding: Chinese Ambassador Died of Natural Causes

The People’s Republic of China has issued a statement regarding the death of its ambassador to Israel, who was found dead in his Herzliya residence on Sunday morning.

“The preliminary finding is that Ambassador Du Wei died unexpectedly of health reasons. The details await further confirmation.”

Israeli police were dispatched to the scene as soon as the body was discovered, but were giving no details.

Channel 12, quoting unidentified emergency medical officials, said initial indications were that Du died in his sleep of natural causes.

The 57-year-old ambassador was a husband and father to a boy. His family are not in Israel with him. He arrived in Israel to hold the position of ambassador in February. He had previously served as Chinese ambassador to Ukraine.

On Friday, the ambassador had dismissed allegations made by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo towards China during his visit last Wednesday.

“We trust that our Jewish friends are not only able to defeat the coronavirus but also the ‘political virus,’ and choose the course of action that best serves its interests,” the ambassador had said.