In Memoriam: China's Former Premier's Passing Inspires Grief and Dissatisfaction with the Xi Era
China mourns the untimely passing of former Premier Li Keqiang, prompting an overwhelming wave of sadness nationwide However, this tragic event is also seen as a rare opportunity for citizens to express their suppressed frustrations towards President Xi Jinping and his governance, marking a crucial moment for the country
The unexpected passing of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has led to a widespread expression of sorrow and mourning throughout the nation. However, for numerous individuals, it seems to present a rare opportunity to express long-suppressed dissatisfaction with the country's top leader, Xi Jinping, and the path he has chosen for China. Li, who held the position of Xi's apparent deputy for a decade until earlier this year, passed away from a sudden heart attack on Friday in Shanghai, as reported by state media. He was 68 years old.
Li's sudden demise, occurring only a few months post his retirement, deeply rattled the Chinese populace. The nation's heavily regulated internet witnessed an outpouring of tributes, while impromptu makeshift memorials adorned with yellow and white bouquets emerged near his childhood home and other sites significant to his past.
Amidst the floral tributes, individuals took to social media and left handwritten notes to honor Li, focusing more on his unfulfilled dreams rather than his accomplishments in policy-making.
Li, widely perceived as being marginalized by Xi - the most influential leader in China in a long time - was regarded as one of the least powerful premiers in the Communist history of China. Consequently, instead of dwelling on his weaknesses, many mourners have chosen to focus on the unrealized visions of Li. In their eyes, these visions could have steered China onto a markedly different path than the one it has followed over the past decade.
According to Alfred Wu, associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, "People are utilizing this opportunity to voice their dissatisfaction with Xi Jinping. It's a manifestation of anger - anger towards the current regime."
Li, a highly educated and reform-minded pragmatist, was once considered a potential candidate for China's top position. However, he eventually assumed the role of premier, a position traditionally responsible for the economy. Although this position typically carries substantial influence in the world's second-largest economy, Li witnessed his policymaking authority progressively overshadowed by Xi. Under Xi's centralized control and departure from the ruling Communist Party's collective leadership of recent decades, Li's power diminished.
To numerous individuals, Li embodies the promise of an alternative China - one that is less influenced by ideology, less authoritarian, and more open to market reforms, entrepreneurship, and international connections.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang review a guard of honor prior to a meeting at the Chancellery on July 9, 2018 in Berlin, Germany.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Mourners shared Lis own words as a tribute to him, subtly criticizing Xi. One of the most cited quotes from Li emphasized that Chinas reform and opening will never cease, comparable to the "Yellow River and Yangtze River never flowing backward." Another quote by Li received widespread mention as a discreet reminder that a leader's actions will be judged by history: "The heavens are watching what people are doing."
Zhang Lun, a Chinese Studies professor at the University of Cergy-Pontoise in France, stated that this flood of tributes reflects a "growing discontent" towards Xis regressive policies throughout the past decade. These policies include increasingly stringent ideological control, diminishing personal freedoms, and relentless political campaigns reminiscent of the Mao Zedong era, the founder of Communist China.
Zhang stated that the frustration was largely due to Xi's strict zero-Covid policies that lasted for three years. These policies had a negative impact on the economy and imposed constant tests, quarantines, and citywide lockdowns on millions of Chinese. The sudden removal of these strict measures came after widespread protests occurred throughout the country. Additionally, there is an ongoing feeling of confusion and hopelessness regarding the future, which is fueled by the country's current economic decline and withdrawal from the global stage. All of these emotions were seeking a means of expression, according to Zhang.
"Although Li may not have been a prominent historical or political figure, he provided an outlet for people to express their discontent," explained Zhang, who was a fellow student of Li's at the esteemed Peking University in the late 1970s, following Mao's Cultural Revolution.
"In a time when truth is suppressed and empty rhetoric prevails, the fundamental principles that Li Keqiang upheld hold immense value. A display of moral integrity and a few sincere words are sufficient to garner public admiration. It mirrors the public's frustration, disillusionment, and dissatisfaction with the current reality, all of which are projected onto Li," he remarked.
Li was revered by his supporters for his commitment to advocating for the less fortunate, even if it contradicted the party's narrative of success. Many social media users expressed their gratitude to Li for acknowledging the harsh reality that 600 million Chinese individuals, approximately 40% of the population, still had a monthly income of only 1,000 yuan ($137), despite the government's claims of eradicating poverty under Xi's leadership.
A highly regarded comment, which was subsequently removed, stated, "He was the only one who truly understood my situation. I have been unemployed for four years, and stability has eluded me."
In July 2016, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited the Yangtze River embankment, located in the central city of Wuhan. This visit took place shortly after a devastating flood had occurred, resulting in the deaths of over 100 individuals and leaving many others missing in the surrounding area.
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A friendly face
During times of hardship and tragedy in the past decade, Li has consistently been a familiar presence for the Chinese people. Often appointed as the highest-ranking party official, he has been responsible for expressing condolences and offering support to those affected by various natural disasters, including floods, earthquakes, and even the Covid-19 pandemic. In early 2020, when the outbreak first erupted in Wuhan, it was Li who acted promptly, arriving in the city more than two months before Xi made his visit, which took place only after the virus had been largely controlled.
Many mourners fondly recalled Li's genuine and compassionate nature. They enthusiastically shared videos of his unplanned encounters with young individuals during his frequent strolls, which starkly contrasted with Xi's typically formal and reserved public persona.
One particular video, which gained tremendous popularity at the time and has resurfaced recently, captured Li without a face mask during a visit to a university in Yunnan province in May of the previous year. This incident occurred amidst the tightening of strict Covid-19 measures by local authorities to prevent a recurrence of Shanghai's two-month lockdown.
Li bid farewell to a group of students, wishing them luck in their search for their dream job. This gesture was seen by many young individuals as a reassuring acknowledgement of their challenges in the face of high youth unemployment rates. In contrast, Xi advised young people to let go of their privileged lifestyles and learn to endure hardships, using the Chinese saying "eat bitterness."
In another recently shared online video, Li was approached by a university student who requested a handshake in order to show off to others using an inappropriate internet slang. However, instead of reprimanding the student, Li graciously extended his hand and humorously asked, "Have you accomplished your bragging now?" Wu, an expert in Singapore, commented that Li's display of humanity is becoming less common within China's bureaucracy.
"Everyone looks like a machine, with no personal feeling, no empathy at all. But he looked different - and people remember that," he said.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visits a hospital in Wuhan on January 27, 2020, days after the city was placed under a complete lockdown to curb the raging Covid-19 outbreak.
Li Tao/AP
Party leader deaths often a sensitive moment
In China, the demise of a high-ranking leader frequently presents a complex and demanding situation for the ruling Communist Party. Due to the strict censorship and severe consequences for openly criticizing the regime, when a well-liked official passes away, it can serve as an opportunity for the public to express their discontent with the leadership.
After the passing of Zhou Enlai, a highly revered premier during Mao's era, in 1976, the mourning public expressed their dissatisfaction with the Cultural Revolution, which had resulted in a tumultuous and violent decade. Over ten years later, the demise of Hu Yaobang, a reformist leader who had been marginalized, sparked widespread grief that eventually evolved into pro-democracy demonstrations across numerous Chinese cities, including Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
Led by university students, the movement eventually concluded in a violent military crackdown that resulted in the loss of hundreds, if not thousands, of lives, plunging the nation into another era of ideological conformity. Under Xi's leadership, the Communist Party has significantly enhanced its surveillance capabilities and is now actively exerting control over the online and real-life tributes to a recently deceased leader.
Social media platforms have censored content such as videos and posts that displayed Lis reformist tendencies or qualities that could unfavorably compare with Xi.
Weibo, a well-known microblogging site, has restricted searches for "Sadly, Its Not You," a love song performed by Malaysian singer Fish Leong. In recent times, Chinese users have often utilized this breakup song to express a comparable sentiment whenever a global leader passes away.
Outside Lis childhood residence in Hefei, the provincial capital of Anhui in eastern China, government workers lined up, keeping watch over the mourners. They urged the crowd not to stay for too long and carefully scrutinized the cards attached to the flower arrangements, as mentioned in eyewitness accounts and photos shared on social media.
Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaking at the EU-China Summit in Brussels, Belgium in 2019.
Thierry Monasse/Getty Images/File
State media reports the death of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at 68. Local authorities are closely monitoring and maintaining a presence at various significant locations of remembrance, such as Li's ancestral home in a remote village in Anhui, and a downtown square in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan, where Li held a prominent position twenty years ago.
Bouquets and notes have intermittently been seen on university campuses, public squares, and waterfront parks in other cities. However, according to social media posts, some of these have been removed.
The official Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday that Lis' remains will be cremated in Beijing on Thursday, while flags across the country will be flown at half-mast. Xinhua also quoted Li as being "praised for being a commendable member of the CPC, a dedicated and steadfast communist soldier, and an exceptional revolutionary, statesman, and leader of the Party and the nation."
Chinese authorities, according to Zhang, the expert in France, will exercise caution in managing public sentiment and refrain from taking actions that could further incite anger. Although the mourning for Li is not currently expected to result in a widespread protest movement, it has the potential to be one of several incidents that contribute to such a movement in the future.
Zhang stated, "Following this momentary release of discontent, public frustration will persistently grow. Li's demise has shattered any prospect of an alternative and the prevailing despair will only accumulate, leading to increased uncertainty for the days ahead."
