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Download Despite limited interaction with China in a political life dominated by regional conflicts, the late Ariel Sharon reportedly once showed his commitment to good ties with Beijing by writing a letter of apology to the then Chinese president for a canceled radar contract. In 2000, president Jiang Zemin met Sharon, then leader of Israel's Likud party, when visiting Israel. Both sides expressed the willingness to strengthen bonds. But the relationship was strained later that year when Israel, under pressure from Washington, canceled a deal to sell China early warning radar. Sharon, who became prime minister in 2001, chose to mend ties by writing a letter of official apology to Jiang and returned the $190 million China had paid, with compensation of $160million, according to the Beijing Youth Daily newspaper. Though several diplomatic sources China Daily contacted on Sunday failed to confirm the information as it was too long ago, Li Guofu, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said he was sure that "Israel was sorry for the result and wanted to compensate China." "Actually, then Israeli minister of regional cooperation Shimon Peres came to China in 2000 to explain and made such remarks when talking with Chinese scholars." When then State councilor Tang Jiaxuan, China's top official in charge of foreign affairs, visited Israel in 2004, Sharon accepted Beijing's invitation to visit with pleasure. He also invited then Chinese president Hu Jintao to visit his country. | 
