Surprisingly, suspicion is beclouding the unexpected death on Sunday from natural causes of Du Wei, China's ambassador to Israel. China said it will send a special team to investigate Wei's death.
The Israel Police (or the Mišteret Yisra'e in Hebrew) confirmed Du's death, and said it isn't treating the death as suspicious but is investigating. It said its officers were at Wei's apartment "as part of the regular procedure. It also said it's investigating this as death by natural causes.
Du, who was only 57, became Ambassador to Israel only this February. He was found dead in bed at his apartment in Herzliya, an affluent city in the central coast of Israel at the northern part of the Tel Aviv District. He appears to have died in his sleep. Du left behind a wife and a son.
The Israel Police said they found no signs of violence on Du's body. The first aid service, Magen David Adom, said the cause of death appears to be a cardiac, or heart attack, incident. Du did not die from COVID-19.
Gen. Yuval Rotem, Israel's Foreign Ministry Director, said he spoke with Dai Yuming, China's deputy ambassador, to express his condolences. He said the ministry will help the Chinese Embassy with anything it may need.
Israeli media said embassies from all over the world contacted Israel's Foreign Ministry, requesting further details regarding the circumstances of Du's death. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying tweeted to express the ministry's "deepest condolences" at her colleague's death. The tweet provided no information about Wei's death.
Du's death has ignited fantastic conspiracy theories claiming he was murdered by the Americans. His death came only a few days after Du published an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post protesting U.S. vice president Mike Pence's visit to Israel. Pence sought to persuade the Israeli government to limit its relationship with China.
Last Friday, the Chinese Embassy in Israel also responded to criticism coming from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. It described as "absurd" Pompeo's remarks China had concealed information about the COVID-19 pandemic from the world. The embassy also reacted to Pompeo's warning to Israel about Chinese investments. Pompeo claimed Chinese investments could pose a security risk, especially in the area of infrastructure.
Du also addressed the matter of Chinese investments in Israeli infrastructure, and hoped for further cooperation. He said China opened its doors to the Jewish people during dark times and didn't close it. He said he hopes Israel won't close its doors to China.
