“This is a shock!”: the death of former Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang

Reactions to the death of Li Keqiang, the former premier of China and number two in China’s hierarchy, have emerged around the world, with some feeling shocked by his passing.

How notes BB.LV, experts do not remove the aspect of the struggle for power in the PRC from the agenda. Xi Jinping turns 70! Although this is not accurate… The loud statements were summarized by Reuters:

Hirokazu Matsuno, Secretary General of the Cabinet of Japan: “Former Premier Li Keqiang played an important role in China-Japan relations, including his official visit to our country during the trilateral summit between Japan, China and South Korea in May 2018. We express our sincere condolences and prayers for the former Premier -Minister Li Keqiang.”

Song Wenti, political scientist, Australian National University: “Li Keqiang’s sudden death certainly came as a surprise since he was only 68 years old. China’s top leaders have a long list of long-lived people – both of Li’s most recent predecessors, Premier Zhu Rongji (95) and Premier Wen Jiabao (81), outlived him. “Lee will likely be remembered as a champion of freer markets and protections for the poor. But most of all, he will be remembered for what could have been.”

Chung Jayan, political scientist, National University of Singapore: “I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that mass mourning would spark some kind of protest, given how there is a certain degree of unease in the PRC at the moment… The fact that there is so much speculation about the cause of Li’s death shows the degree of uncertainty and mistrust, reflecting concerns about the opacity and arbitrariness of the top leadership (of the Communist Party), as evidenced by the recent sudden and inexplicable removals of leaders.”

Neil Thomas, Research Fellow, China Analysis Center, Asia Society Policy Institute: “Xi Jinping will likely respect party traditions and lead the public mourning for Li, as he has no reason to anger Li’s colleagues and supporters in a party whose waning political influence has been further weakened by his death. Xi Jinping may allow some public mourning for Li Lee, but will likely have zero tolerance for attempts to use Lee’s death to oppose his leadership.”

Richard McGregor, Senior Research Fellow, Lowy Institute, Sydney: “The reformist era ended a long time ago. I don’t think there is any connection with Hu Yaobang (the political reformer whose death sparked mass mourning and protests in Tiananmen Square), and there is not much symbolic significance attached to Li’s funeral. It’s a shock.” because he is relatively young in a system that provides the best health care for its leaders.”

Meanwhile, in China, the circumstances of the death of former Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang were revealed. Former Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang died of a heart attack that occurred while the politician was swimming in the pool. As the Hong Kong South China Morning Post reported on October 28, Keqiang had previously undergone heart surgery.

According to two sources of the publication, the politician was in the pool of the Dongjiao Binguan Hotel, where he lived during a trip to Shanghai. Doctors, accompanied by members of his personal security, immediately took Li Keqiang to Shuguang Hospital, where he died despite the efforts of doctors. writes Russian edition “Izvestia”.

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