Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Passes Away at Age 68, Raising Questions About Power Struggles in China
Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, known for his reformist stance and once seen as a leading contender for Communist Party leadership, has died at the age of 68. Li passed away due to a heart attack on Friday, just seven months after retiring from his position as premier. His death has sent shockwaves across China, as it comes amidst power struggles within the nation’s political landscape.
Li’s influence had waned in recent years as President Xi Jinping tightened his grip on power and shifted the country towards a more statist direction. Despite being a proponent of a more open market economy and advocating for supply-side reforms, Li had to align with Xi’s preference for increased state control. This shift in dynamics resulted in a decline in Li’s power base and diminished his influence within the government.
The news of Li’s passing prompted an outpouring of grief and shock on Chinese social media platforms. Government websites displayed black-and-white colors as a sign of mourning, while Weibo, a popular microblogging platform, transformed its like button into a chrysanthemum-shaped icon to symbolize mourning.
During his tenure as premier, Li played a pivotal role in steering China’s economy. He sparked discussions on poverty and income inequality by highlighting that over 600 million people in the country earned less than $140 per month. However, his policies faced challenges and were unable to fully address these issues.
Li will be remembered as a representative of the reformist movement in China and a proponent of a freer market. However, some intellectuals and members of the liberal elite have expressed dismay at Li’s passing, viewing it as the end of an era for China’s economic reform.
Li’s death raises questions about the future direction of the country’s economic policies. As one of the last remaining figures associated with the liberal economic reform movement, his absence leaves a void in Chinese politics.
Li’s passing serves as a reminder of the constraints faced by political figures under President Xi’s leadership. Li’s immediate predecessors as premier, Zhu Rongji and Wen Jiabao, held more influential positions. Despite being sidelined, Li continued to work within the confines of his role and strived to implement economic reforms.
Li Keqiang’s journey to political prominence began in Anhui province, where he experienced the hardships of the Cultural Revolution. He studied law at Peking University and became immersed in the intellectual and political landscape of the era of reform under Deng Xiaoping. However, his political career faced setbacks, including allegations of cracking down during an Aids scandal while serving as a provincial leader.
Li is survived by his wife, Cheng Hong, a professor of English, and their daughter. His passing marks the end of an era and raises questions about the future trajectory of economic reforms in China.
In conclusion, the untimely death of former Premier Li Keqiang has shaken China and raised concerns about power struggles within the nation. As a reformist leader, Li’s passing leaves a void in the political landscape and uncertainty about the future direction of economic policies. Only time will tell how this event will shape China’s political and economic landscape moving forward.
