Xi Jinping's onetime political rival, former Chinese premier Li Keqiang, is dead at 68
Business InsiderJUL 2023
Former China Premier Li Keqiang Dies at 68
Image copyright: Friends of Europe/Flickr [via Wikimedia Commons]
The Spin
Pro-China narrative
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
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.
Metaculus Prediction
There's a 53% chance that Xi Jinping will continue leading China in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/2KXE7UMG4BPQFB5OERP4EVGGWY.jpg)
