China: Killing of journalist Khashoggi ‘unfortunate’

Breaking its silence on the roiling international controversy, China on Thursday called the Oct. 2 killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi “unfortunate.”

China has been following the statements made by all sides, including Saudi Arabia and Turkey, as well as the investigation process, Foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press conference in Beijing.

On the killing, she said, “This is an unfortunate incident,” adding that it should be investigated properly.

Until now China has remained silent about the killing of the Saudi journalist and has not taken questions.

Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, was last seen on Oct. 2 when he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

After days of denying any knowledge of his whereabouts, Saudi officials last week admitted that Khashoggi was killed in a "brawl" at the consulate.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday laid out his country’s initial findings in its investigation, saying Khashoggi's “murder was premeditated."