Cremation of Late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Scheduled; National Flags to be Flown at Half-Staff

The body of the late Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is set for cremation this coming Thursday, and national flags across the country will be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for the statesman who played a pivotal role in steering China’s economy for ten years.

Li passed away last Friday from a myocardial infarction at the age of 68. Emotional gatherings were observed at his boyhood residence in the city of Hefei. This public expression of sorrow has been interpreted by some as a veiled criticism of Xi Jinping, the current state leader and head of the Communist Party.

Once considered a possible contender for the highest leadership role, Li, a trained economist, was marginalized in a reshuffling of the leadership last year and succeeded by Li Qiang, a loyalist to Xi Jinping. Prior to this, Xi had already fortified his grip on power by embarking on an anti-corruption drive and modifying the constitution to extend his term indefinitely.

In addition, Xi Jinping has rigorously reorganized key positions in the economic and financial sectors and established the Central Financial Commission. These moves are perceived as diverting authority away from other regulatory bodies like the China Securities Regulatory Commission.

The passing of Li Keqiang, who was fluent in English and represented a cohort of politicians educated during a period of greater receptivity to liberal Western ideologies, is viewed by numerous analysts as emblematic of a trend towards tighter party controls.

Though Li held the second-highest position in the Communist Party, his media coverage by state-sponsored outlets was noticeably less compared to that of Xi Jinping. The duo did not share the sort of collaborative relationship that has historically defined interactions between preceding presidents and premiers of China.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency eulogized Li Keqiang on Tuesday, praising him as an “exceptional member of the Communist Party, a loyal and tested communist fighter, and an extraordinary statesman and leader of both the Party and the state.” Flags will be flown at half-staff not only in mainland China but also in the semi-autonomous cities of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as Chinese consulates and embassies worldwide, according to Xinhua.

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• Xinhua News Agency’s Eulogy for Li Keqiang
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