Skip to main content

China calls top US diplomat's comments in Israel 'absurd'

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said China was not being forthcoming about the coronavirus and critiqued Israel-China ties in Jerusalem this week.
JERUSALEM - MAY 13: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY √¢ MANDATORY CREDIT - "KOBI GIDEON / GPO / HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) after traveling abroad for the first time amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in West Jerusalem on May 13, 2020. (Photo by Kobi Gideon / GPO / Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

China criticized US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today, saying the US top diplomat’s comments on the coronavirus and China-Israel relations while in Israel this week were “absurd.”

Pompeo met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Pompeo’s visit sought to forge ties with Israel's incoming unity government between Netanyahu and his former rival Benny Gantz. The visit also came amid US concern that a Chinese company will win the rights to build the largest water desalination plant in the world off the coast of Israel.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.