Former Premier Li Keqiang, China’s top economic official for a decade, passed away at the age of 68 [e171dcaa][84238d02]. Li served as China's No. 2 leader from 2013 to 2023 and was known for his advocacy for private business. However, his authority was significantly diminished after President Xi Jinping consolidated power and tightened control over the economy and society. Li's death marks the end of an era and raises questions about the future direction of China's economic policies [e171dcaa]. The sudden death of Li Keqiang has shocked and saddened the Chinese public and garnered condolences from foreign diplomats, business leaders, and China watchers worldwide [ab1e4fd1]. Li, who was visiting Shanghai at the time, was 68 years old and in good health. The news of his death quickly became the top trending topic on social media, with millions of posts mourning his passing [ab1e4fd1]. Li is remembered for his significant contributions as the first premier in China's history with a bachelor of laws and a doctorate in economics. He played a crucial role in China-Japan relations and received annual briefings from Hong Kong chief executives on the city's political and economic development. Li's caring and capable leadership was praised by many, who shared photos of his visits to disaster-stricken areas and his support for the street-stall economy [ab1e4fd1]. Foreign entities, such as the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, expressed deep sadness at his sudden death. Li's commitment to China's development, his understanding of the Chinese economy, and his support for economic reforms and the people's livelihood were highly regarded by those who knew him [ab1e4fd1].
The remains of former Chinese premier Li Keqiang are to be cremated on Thursday, with flags around the country to be flown at half-staff to mourn his passing. Flags will be lowered at government offices, including in Hong Kong, Macao, and Chinese consulates and embassies worldwide [84f6dffd].
Crowds have gathered near the state funeral home as preparations are made for Li Keqiang's funeral [30beae37]. Li's time in office was marked by crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and he was seen as an alternative to the increasingly authoritarian party leader Xi Jinping. However, Li had little authority after Xi tightened control over the economy and society. Xi awarded himself a third five-year term as party leader and filled top party ranks with loyalists [30beae37].
Mourning for former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is tinged with discontent in China, as President Xi Jinping's leadership is being questioned. Flowers were laid in front of Li Keqiang's childhood home in Hefei, Anhui province, but there is growing dissatisfaction with Xi Jinping's handling of the economy and his consolidation of power. The mourning for Li Keqiang is seen as an opportunity for people to express their grievances against Xi Jinping's leadership [e52bd165]. Uyghurs and Tibetans do not have warm sentiments for the late Premier Li Keqiang, who is remembered for Beijing's repression rather than economic reforms. Li played a role in the Chinese government's crackdown on Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang, including mass detentions, forced abortions and sterilizations, and forced labor. People are urged to stop romanticizing Li as a 'man of the people' because of his economic policies. Li's involvement in repressive policies was revealed in the Xinjiang Papers, which included statements by other Chinese Communist Party leaders. Li also did nothing to protect the human rights of Tibetans during his time in power. Chinese officials have remained silent about the atrocities and repression in Tibet. [685c8ff6]
Following the death of Li Keqiang, the Chinese government has implemented censorship measures to control the narrative surrounding his passing. The Citizen Lab, a research group, tracked changes to censorship on seven internet platforms, including Baidu, Weibo, and Microsoft Bing. They found that certain keyword combinations triggered either hard censorship (all results censored) or soft censorship (results only allowed from whitelisted sources). The censorship rules targeted speculation about Li's cause of death, aspirations wishing harm to Xi Jinping, memorials for Li, recognition of Li's diminished status, and commentary on how Li's death solidifies Xi's political status [e17ab0ee]. The article highlights the historical context of public mourning in China and the government's attempts to manage citizens' responses to Li's passing. The censorship rules discovered were either new or previously undiscovered. The article provides specific examples of the censored content and the platforms on which they were censored. The authors note that the censorship aims to push CPC-sanctioned narratives and distort the online information environment. Ongoing monitoring efforts by The Citizen Lab will continue to track changes in Chinese censorship [e17ab0ee].