On July 3rd, 2025, it was the 70th birth anniversary of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. He was officially announced to have passed away suddenly due to a heart attack two years ago, but his death left behind many doubts, with suspicions that it was related to internal power struggles within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP official media outlet, People’s Daily, published a lengthy article praising Li Keqiang on this occasion, but shortly after, the CCP Central Party School’s magazine, Qiushi, deleted the article, leading to speculations that it might be related to factional infighting within the CCP.
The People’s Daily, the largest CCP media outlet, published a commemorative article on page six, written by the CCP Central Party History and Document Research Institute, which portrayed Li Keqiang in a positive light from a party perspective. The article emphasized Li Keqiang’s advocacy for truthfulness and practical actions, as well as his opposition to formalism and bureaucracy.
It also mentioned that after stepping down from his leadership position in March 2023, Li Keqiang continued to support Xi Jinping’s leadership and was described as diligent and selfless. However, netizens discovered that the article commemorating Li Keqiang’s 70th birthday on the Qiushi website had been deleted, indicating a possible link to CCP factional struggles.
Analysts believe that the publication of this article may be connected to the ongoing power struggle within the CCP, especially amid rumors of Xi Jinping losing grip on power prior to the upcoming meetings. Some speculate that the article could be a move by officials supporting the faction Li Keqiang was associated with.
According to official records, Li Keqiang, born on July 3, 1955, in Hefei, served as the Premier for two terms alongside the current CCP leader, Xi Jinping. He passed away at the age of 68 in Shanghai due to a sudden heart attack in 2023, making him the youngest and the earliest deceased Premier in CCP history. His death has been questioned as possibly linked to internal power struggles within the CCP.
During his tenure, tensions were reported between Li and Xi, with Li Keqiang’s remarks during the 2020 Two Sessions, where he revealed the low average monthly income of 600 million Chinese people, undermining the credibility of Xi Jinping’s poverty alleviation campaign.
In February 2023, Li Keqiang’s retirement speech at the Development and Reform Commission hinted at underlying tensions, and his final work report presented during the National People’s Congress was followed by a brief, non-engaging exchange with Xi Jinping, which observers believe adds to the suspicions surrounding Li Keqiang’s death.
In October 2023, veteran Xinhua News Agency journalist Gu Wanming publicly called for an investigation into Li Keqiang’s death, pointing fingers at the CCP leadership and hinting at ambitious and conspiratorial forces within the party.
In a recent development in February 2025, independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed that Gu Wanming faced harsh consequences, including a one-year sentence and loss of retirement benefits, for questioning the circumstances of Li Keqiang’s death.
After Li Keqiang’s passing, spontaneous tributes at his Anhui residence were swiftly cleared by authorities. During last year’s Tomb-sweeping Festival, heavy security was seen around Li Keqiang’s residence on Hongxing Road in Hefei, indicating a sensitive environment.
Regarding the CCP media’s commemoration of Li Keqiang, overseas netizens viewed it as a political signal of a shifting direction. Speculations arose about possible significant events in October. Independent commentators and insiders hinted at political uncertainties and unusual activities within Beijing’s political circles.
In conclusion, the commemorative article published by People’s Daily honoring Li Keqiang only through a written piece without additional public events does not necessarily signify a major shift in the political landscape or new revelations about his death. Critics find it perplexing that even in his memory, the People’s Daily emphasized the need to stand more closely around Xi Jinping’s leadership.