China mourns the death of former premier Li Keqiang, known as "the people's premier," as the country lowers its national flag and holds a funeral ceremony attended by top political leaders. Li, a former economist and pro-reform leader, served as premier for 10 years before retiring in March. Messages of grief flooded social media platforms, with Li becoming the top trending topic on Weibo. Despite being sidelined in recent years, Li is remembered for his contributions to the nation and his hands-on approach to leadership.
Chinese citizens are mourning the death of Li Keqiang, their former prime minister, despite official media outlets downplaying his passing and censoring online tributes. Some observers see these tributes as a challenge to President Xi Jinping and a yearning for a more reformist China. Li's focus on concrete problems and his willingness to admit China's serious issues, as well as his humble origins, resonated with many Chinese who miss the accountability and governing performance of the reform era. However, under Xi's leadership, China has shifted towards one-man rule and rejects external supervision, making it difficult to acknowledge problems and doubt Xi's leadership.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and other top Communist Party and state leaders paid their final respects to former premier Li Keqiang, who passed away from a heart attack. The ceremony took place at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing, where Li's body was cremated. Flags flew at half mast across the country, and millions of people posted on social media to commemorate him. Li served as premier for two terms and was hailed as an outstanding leader. Foreign governments, including Japan, also paid tribute to Li.
China is cracking down on excessive mourning for former premier Li Keqiang, who was largely sidelined by Communist Party chief Xi Jinping. Social media posts and discussions about Li's death and political or economic reform have been censored. Li's death has been seen as implied criticism of Xi's rule, as he represented a path not taken by China's increasingly authoritarian government. Authorities are closely monitoring public gatherings and removing makeshift memorials. The death of a senior official can lead to tense times for the Communist Party, as seen in the Tiananmen Square protests following Hu Yaobang's death in 1989.
Chinese censors have warned against "effusive comments" disguised as praise for former Premier Li Keqiang, as the country mourns his death. The censorship reflects fears that such comments may actually be acts of criticism against President Xi Jinping. Chinese internet users often use code language to criticize the government, making it difficult for censors to detect. Li's death comes at a time of economic difficulty for China, with its real estate market in decline. The mourning for Li is seen as a reflection of discontent with Xi and concerns about China's future.
The mourning of Li Keqiang, a former Chinese premier, poses a challenge for Beijing as it highlights the perception of corruption among other leaders. Li's funeral drew a large crowd, with many expressing their admiration for his integrity and dedication to serving the people. This contrasted with the widespread public perception of corruption within the Chinese leadership, raising questions about the credibility and trustworthiness of other officials.
Chinese universities have instructed students not to organize private memorial events for former premier Li Keqiang, who recently passed away, in an effort to avoid potential protests and social unrest. The universities fear that such gatherings could become emotionally charged and reminiscent of the mass pro-democracy protests that occurred after the death of former Communist Party chief Hu Yaobang in 1989. Notices have been issued to student leaders and counselors, urging them to wait for official announcements regarding national mourning and to prevent any unauthorized mourning activities. The universities are also taking measures to ensure campus security and stability, including monitoring student activities and discouraging inappropriate remarks about Li's death.
Former Premier Li Keqiang, China's top economic official for a decade, has died at the age of 68. Li, who was an advocate for private business, saw his authority diminish under President Xi Jinping's tightening control over the economy and society. Despite promises to improve conditions for entrepreneurs, the ruling party under Xi increased the dominance of state industry and tightened control over tech and other sectors. Li was dropped from the party's ruling seven-member Standing Committee in 2022, while Xi awarded himself a third term as party leader. Li's tenure was marked by challenges such as weak consumer spending and a wealth gap, and he was seen as a possible candidate to revive market-oriented reforms. However, he was known for his easygoing style and faced criticism for his handling of various disasters and crises during his term.
The sudden death of former Chinese premier Li Keqiang came as a surprise to Beijing's top leaders, as indicated by the handling of the announcement by Chinese official media. The initial brief message from Xinhua was followed by a delayed official obituary, signed by the ruling Communist Party leadership. Analysts suggest that Beijing was underprepared in its messaging and wanted to curb conspiracy theories. Li, 68, died of a heart attack during a visit to Shanghai. Medical experts tried to revive him but were unsuccessful. The funeral arrangements will be decided by the party's top decision-making Politburo.
Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has died at the age of 68 after suffering a heart attack while swimming in Shanghai. Li, who served as premier from 2013 to 2021, was known as "the people's premier" and was praised for his support of economic reforms and opening-up policies. His sudden death shocked the nation, with millions of people paying tribute on social media. Li's passing is seen as a significant loss for China, and his funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, once seen as a top contender for Communist Party leadership, has died at the age of 68. Li, an elite economist known for his support of a more open market economy, was sidelined by President Xi Jinping in recent years as Xi tightened his grip on power and pursued a more statist direction for the economy. Li's death is seen as a loss for the party and nation, with some viewing it as the end of an era for liberal economic reform in China.
Li Keqiang, the late former premier of China, was known for his reputation of openness and closeness to regular people. He had an unusual ability to connect with the public, which set him apart from other Chinese state leaders.
The death of former premier Li Keqiang in China has raised concerns for the current administration led by Xi Jinping. Li represented a different approach to governance, focusing on pragmatism rather than ideology. His passing has triggered measures to maintain stability, including a crackdown on VPN use to control access to the internet. Li's criticism of China's official statistics and his open acknowledgment of the economic impact of the zero-Covid approach during the pandemic made him a popular figure among the public. However, his power had become limited under Xi's leadership, as demonstrated by the quick overturning of his suggested policies. Li's death, following the removal of high-profile ministers, adds to the sensitivity surrounding his legacy.
Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who served as the country's premier for a decade until March 2022, has died of a sudden heart attack at the age of 68. Li, once seen as a reform-minded contender for China's top leadership role, navigated the country through challenges such as rising technology and trade tensions with the United States, mounting government debt, unemployment, and the Covid-19 pandemic. He was known for his focus on addressing societal issues and supporting the private sector, but was increasingly sidelined by Xi Jinping. Li's death leaves a void of reform-minded senior cadres in China's leadership.
China's Communist Party mourns the death of former premier Li Keqiang, praising his achievements in the Belt and Road Initiative, poverty relief, support for the internet industry, and efforts in fighting Covid-19. The official obituary described Li as an "outstanding leader of party and state" and a "huge loss" for the party and the state. Li's support for President Xi Jinping continued even after his retirement in March. Social media platforms were flooded with condolences and shock over Li's death, with the hashtag about his death being read nearly 700 million times on Weibo.
