Former China Premier Li Keqiang Dies at 68

Facts

According to an official obituary notice, former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, 68, died of a sudden heart attack early Friday in Shanghai despite all-out efforts to revive him.¹
Late last year, Li retired from Communist Party leadership positions during the same twice-a-decade party congress where Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping secured his third term as general secretary.²
In his last months in power, Li warned about challenges to the country's economy during COVID lockdowns and supported efforts to boost employment and preserve economic stability.³
As Xi emerged as the PRC's most powerful leader in decades, he allegedly sidelined pro-private business Li, who favored global integration of China's economy.⁴
Li, who held the second highest-ranked position in China for years, was the only high-ranking official in the Politburo Standing Committee not to be a Xi loyalist.⁵
As a Communist Party member, Li had reportedly aligned himself with Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao — who was removed from an important session at last year's 20th Party Congress.⁶

Pro-China narrative, as provided by South China Morning Post. The passing of such a great leader, who has enormously contributed to the development of the Chinese economy and expressed steadfast support for Xi Jinping even after his retirement earlier this year, is a massive loss for the Communist Party and the PRC. China will never forget Li for his efforts to help improve the country and build a clean government.
Anti-China narrative, as provided by Breitbart. Though Li has never publicly challenged Xi Jinping's decade-long dictatorship, he had been considered a potential rival due to their ideological differences. So, it's no coincidence that online comments about him were severely restricted after his death while state media refrained from turning their pages black and white as traditionally done when senior Communist Party members die.