New German ambassador to China died suddenly

New German ambassador to China died suddenly dpa 3 min ago | Only shortly after taking up his post in Beijing, the new German ambassador to China, Jan Hecker, has died unexpectedly. Jan Hecker, then foreign policy adviser to Chancellor Merkel, in the Chancellery. The German ambassador to China is dead.© Michael Kappeler/dpa Jan Hecker, then foreign policy adviser to Chancellor Merkel, at the Chancellor's Office. The German ambassador to China is dead. The 54-year-old had served as a close foreign policy adviser to Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) before taking on the important diplomatic role in China's capital. The cause of his death initially remained unclear. "It is with deep sadness and dismay that we have learned of the sudden death of the German ambassador to China, Prof. Dr. Jan Hecker," the German Foreign Office simply announced on Monday. Born in Kiel, he was married and leaves behind three children. He had taken over the post only in August. After arriving in Beijing, the top diplomat and his family had first undergone the usual quarantine in China because of the Corona pandemic. Hecker then handed over his credentials in Beijing on Aug. 24 and began regular duties. "I am deeply shocked by the death of Jan Hecker," the chancellor announced in Berlin. "I mourn the loss of a highly esteemed adviser of many years, of deep humanity and outstanding expertise." She said she thinks "with gratitude" of their collaboration. "My deepest sympathy goes to his wife, children and other relatives in their immeasurable grief." German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (SPD) expressed dismay, saying, "Our country loses an accomplished diplomat and the Foreign Office loses an outstanding and valued colleague." A senior Beijing Foreign Ministry official said, "What sad and shocking news." China's Foreign Office spokesman Wang Wenbin told the press, "We are shocked to learn of the sudden death of Ambassador Jan Hecker." He offered condolences to the family. A leading German company representative in Beijing said Hecker was still in good spirits at a cultural event Friday at the embassy. "Tragic. He was such a smart and reserved man. A good listener." Before being sent to China, Hecker had been head of the foreign, security and development policy department in the chancellor's office since 2017, making him a close confidant of the chancellor. He accompanied Merkel on her trips. After the Bundestag election and the end of Merkel's chancellorship, Hecker was supposed to provide continuity in the difficult relationship with the emerging great power China, according to observers. Representatives of the Chinese Foreign Ministry had expressly welcomed his appointment, pointing to his closeness to the chancellor, who has taken a more cautious line in Europe's growing tensions with China. He was the chancellor's first foreign policy adviser who had not gone through the classic diplomatic career, and he was considered an outstanding rising star. From 2011 to 2015, the law and political science graduate served as a judge on the Federal Administrative Court, after working in the Interior Ministry from 1999 to 2011. His boss at the time, now Economy Minister Peter Altmaier (CDU), wrote of him on Twitter: "His sense of duty, human and professional competence and deep education were outstanding." Hecker became head of the then newly created Refugee Policy Coordination Staff in 2015. As such, he played a key role in the refugee crisis in fulfilling the chancellor's promise of "We can do it." He thus moved up to the center of power and Merkel's side. After the death news, the flags of the embassy in Beijing flew at half-mast. German diplomats would not comment on the circumstances of the death, referring to the Foreign Office. Hecker's representative, envoy Frank Rückert, is now assuming ambassadorial duties for the time being.