Beijing tells world leaders not to come to Jiang's funeral

Korea expressed condolences over the death of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, but will not be sending an official delegation to his funeral. “The Chinese government has announced its intention not to receive foreign delegations for...

President Yoon Suk-yeol, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. [YONHAP]

Korea expressed condolences over the death of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin, but will not be sending an official delegation to his funeral.

“The Chinese government has announced its intention not to receive foreign delegations for the memorial service, and we intend to respect that decision,” a Foreign Ministry official told a group of reporters in Seoul on Thursday.

Jiang died of leukemia and multiple organ failure on Wednesday, according to the Chinese Communist Party. He was 96.

A committee created to organize Jiang’s funeral said Wednesday it is not receiving any foreign delegations “in accordance with China’s practice,” reported China’s state-media CCTV.

President Yoon Suk-yeol will send a letter of condolence, according to his office. Korean Ambassador to China Chung Jae-ho signed a condolence book for Jiang at the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Thursday.

Korean Ambassador to China Chung Jae-ho signs a condolence book for former Chinese President Jiang Zemin at the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Thursday. [YONHAP]

This is not the first time the Chinese government discouraged foreign delegations from attending funerals of its leaders. When Deng Xiaoping died in 1997, the Chinese government did the same, even asking U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who was in Beijing at the time, to leave before the ceremony began.

Jiang was head of the Chinese Communist Party from 1989 to 2002, coming into office during the protests in Tiananmen Square. He served as president of China from 1993 to 2003.

Jiang’s leadership during the protests in Tiananmen Square and the slaughter of many protestors was mentioned in obituaries abroad, which mentioned the ongoing protests in China over Covid restrictions.

They are the most widespread protests since 1989.

As many as 23 protests took place across 17 cities as of Tuesday, according to CNN.

The Chinese Embassy in Seoul opened a condolence book for anyone wishing to pay tribute to Jiang on Thursday. It will be available at the embassy through next Tuesday.

Chinese consulate offices in Busan, Gwangju and Jeju will do likewise, according to the embassy.

China's former President Jiang Zemin smiles as he listens to the translation during a joint press conference with United States President George W. Bush after the two met privately at Bush's Crawford, Texas ranch, in the U.S. on Oct. 25, 2002. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]