Former Premier Li Keqiang's Death Complicates Political Landscape For Xi Jinping: 'We Have A Lot Of Other Leaders Who Are Corrupt But He Wasn't'

The passing of former premier Li Keqiang creates a delicate situation for China’s ruling Communist party, as it grapples with geopolitical tensions and a sluggish economic recovery, analysts noted.

Li, fondly remembered as the “people’s premier,” was a trained economist who led Xi Jinping’s cabinet for a decade and was known for his market-oriented reforms and anti-poverty initiatives, reported Financial Times

"We have a lot of other leaders who are corrupt but he wasn't one of them. He cared for the poorest of society," said one woman who had joined a crowd of mourners.

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Li’s death presents a sensitive moment for the Communist party, which must reconcile paying respects to former officials and shaping their legacy while preventing any potential political upheavals.

“Sometimes to praise the path not taken is to make a comment on the path that was taken,” says Wen-Ti Sung, a fellow at the Atlantic Council Global China Hub.

Xi faced a similar challenge last November following the passing of former president Jiang Zemin, whose tenure was marked by economic openness and high growth. Jiang’s death coincided with protests against Xi’s stringent zero-Covid lockdowns.

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