The remains of China's former senior military officer Xu Qiliang were cremated in Beijing on Sunday.
Xi Jinping, along with other Party and state leaders including Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi, bid farewell to Xu at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery on Sunday.
Amid solemn music, they walked slowly toward Xu's body and stood in silent tribute. They then paid their final respects with three bows, shook hands with Xu's family and offered condolences.
On June 2, Xu died of illness at the age of 75 in Beijing.
Xu, who served as a member of the Political Bureau of the 18th and 19th Central Committees of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was extolled as an excellent CPC member, a time-tested and loyal communist fighter, a proletarian military strategist, and an outstanding leader of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and Hu Jintao, among others, had either visited Xu when he was in hospital or expressed deep condolences and offered sincere sympathies to his family through various means after his passing.
Other Party, state and military leaders either paid their final respects at the cemetery or expressed their condolences through various means. Leading officials from relevant central Party and state departments, Xu's friends and representatives from his hometown also mourned his passing at the cemetery.
Remains of China's former senior military officer Xu Qiliang cremated
Remains of China's former senior military officer Xu Qiliang cremated
Residents of Paris criticized the United States on repeatedly signaling its interest in acquiring Greenland, stressing that such hegemonic actions violate international law and global order.
Since taking office in January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed takeover attempts of Greenland.
White House press secretary Karoline Levitt said on Wednesday that Trump and his national security team are actively discussing options to acquire Greenland.
The world's largest island, which lies between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark and the northernmost point of land in the world.
Amid rising global concerns over the Greenland issue, many on the streets of the French capital said the moves of Trump administration are driven by its desire to control more global resources.
"The United States' attempt to control Greenland is ultimately aimed at acquiring resources," said Yadi, a local resident.
Observers believe that the U.S. government's resource plundering is further evidence of its hegemonism and contempt for international law.
"Greenland is a territory of Denmark. The very fact that the United States is intervening in this matter for resources is shocking, as if the world's leading superpower can permit itself to do anything, acting with complete impunity. Now the U.S. believes it can do anything, even seeing itself as the center of the world. This situation is absurd in itself. The era when territories could be annexed in this manner is long gone," said Edes, a Parisian citizen.
"There are laws in the world, but the U.S. government does not respect international law and completely tramples on it," said Genaya, another Parisian.
The White House confirmed in an email to China's Xinhua News Agency that the options under consideration for acquiring the world's largest island include the use of military force.
Frank, another Parisian, believes this is possible after an audacious U.S. military operation in Venezuela in recent days, one that ended with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife captured and taken to New York.
"Given Trump's recent actions in Venezuela, we cannot rule out the possibility of military intervention by the United States in Greenland. Essentially, this is blatant plundering -- if I want something, I just take it or force it to be sold," he said.
Although Danish and Greenlandic government officials and European allies have also criticized the U.S. approach, some French people believe that the European Union needs to offer more resolute support to Denmark.
"In my opinion, even if Denmark rejects, the United States doesn't care about Denmark at all, let alone the European Union. If the EU does not firmly stand by Denmark's side and clearly state 'No, we won't accept it,' the U.S. will continue to test the waters," said Edmound, another resident.
Paris residents condemn U.S. Greenland bid, warn of threat to European sovereignty
