Li Keqiang, former Chinese premier, has died at age 68

Li Keqiang, the former premier of China, has died of a heart attack, less than a year after stepping down from his post as the country's second-highest-ranking leader. The 68-year-old, who retired in March, served two terms alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, but towards the end of his career, was politically side-lined as Xi amassed ever-greater personal power over China's government and economy. In the hours after Li's death, news reports were indexed notably low in media like People's Daily and China Daily - both considered mouthpieces of the Chinese Communist Party - taking second or third place to articles on new infrastructure, foreign investment, and even astronauts. David Bandurski, director of the China Media Project, said China's leadership would probably want to take a "Great deal of care" over the treatment of Li's death, and how his contributions are remembered. Li's tenure as premier and head of Xi's cabinet proved disappointing to supporters at home and abroad who were hoping that a university-educated economist would open China's economy even further. "His premiership took place in a context of China tightening the control of the economy and the society, and an era where security and ideology gradually overtook economic performance as the priority, which is well shown by China's prioritisation of zero-COVID over economic recovery," said Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center. In the months leading up to his retirement, Li referenced China's mightiest rivers to stress his optimism that China would always move forward.