US, Britain, India avoid voicing condolences at UN
The United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, European Council President Charles Michel as well as the leaders of Russia, Japan, Pakistan and Singapore have led global tributes to former president Jiang Zemin.
Beijing’s fraught state of relations with the United States and its key partners India and Britain, however, were put into sharp relief after the representatives of the three countries opted not to voice their condolences during a United Nations Security Council meeting.
The UN envoy for Ghana, Harold Agyeman – serving as the Security Council’s president for November – expressed “deepest sympathy” to Beijing on behalf of the 15-nation body before it voted on Wednesday on a resolution declaring the proliferation of nuclear weapons “a threat of international peace and security”.
While the delegates of Russia, Mexico, United Arab Emirates and three others prefaced their remarks with condolences, those representing Washington, New Delhi and London did not.
There was no immediate reaction to
Jiang’s death from the US and Britain, though the Indian embassy in Beijing expressed its deep condolences on Weibo.
The three nations’ silence contrasted with the EU, where European Council President Charles Michel tweeted his “sincere condolences”.
Michel, who arrived yesterday for meetings with China’s top leadership, including President Xi Jinping, had come under criticism from some of his bloc’s lawmakers for making the trip.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin said Jiang was a “dear friend” to his country.
“Jiang Zemin made an invaluable contribution to the development of Russian-Chinese relations … the bright memory of such an authoritative politician and a wonderful person will forever remain in my heart,” Putin said in a message to Xi, according to a Kremlin statement.
Elsewhere, several Asian dignitaries paid tribute to one of the region’s political giants of the late 20th century, with Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong describing Jiang as an “honoured friend” of the city state.
President Halimah Yacob and Lee sent condolence letters late on Wednesday to President Xi and Premier Li Keqiang, respectively, after Chinese state media confirmed Jiang’s death.
In his letter to Li, Lee noted Jiang had met two former Singapore prime ministers, Lee Kuan Yew and Goh Chok Tong, “on many occasions and extended them warm hospitality during their visits to China”
“Singapore’s relations with China have continued to prosper under President Jiang’s successors. His was a lasting contribution which we have consolidated and built upon,” Lee wrote. “President Jiang will long be warmly remembered as an honoured friend of Singapore.”
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he was “deeply saddened” by the news of Jiang’s death. “I respectfully pray that the soul of His Excellency Jiang Zemin may rest in peace, and offer heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the Chinese government and Chinese people,” Kishida said in a message addressed to Xi and Li.
He also said Jiang had “played an important role” in bilateral relations, making an official visit to Japan in 1998 as the first incumbent Chinese president, while praising his leadership in advancing his country’s economic reform and open-door policies.
Also expressing condolences over Jiang’s death was Pakistan, a key regional ally of China’s, with Prime Minister Shebaz Sharif calling him “a wise leader and a statesman”.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply saddened” by Jiang’s death. “I will never forget Jiang Zemin’s personal warmth and openness, as well as the excellent cooperation that I enjoyed as prime minister of Portugal with him to ensure the smooth transition of the handover to China of the administration of Macau,” he said.
The bright memory of such an authoritative politician and a wonderful person will forever remain in my heart
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN