Portrait of Li Keqiang
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Li Keqiang on Xi Jinping

Sidelined subordinate (moderate) Position evolved

TL;DR

Li Keqiang's political role was steadily diminished by Xi Jinping, showcasing a power imbalance until his death.

Key Points

  • Xi Jinping officially consolidated his status as the core of the Party's leadership, which coincided with Li Keqiang's power narrowing primarily to administrative roles.

  • Li Keqiang promoted economic revitalization under the banner of "Likonomics," though this focus appeared secondary to security under the paramount leader.

  • Li Keqiang made a notable public statement in 2020 that 600 million Chinese earned about 1,000 RMB monthly, seemingly contradicting the leadership's official poverty narrative.

Summary

Li Keqiang, during his tenure as Premier, operated under the shadow of President Xi Jinping, a dynamic often described as the Xi Jinping–Li Keqiang Administration, which began in 2013. As the administration progressed, Xi consolidated authority, particularly by absorbing economic policymaking into Party organs and weakening the State Council, which Li led. This structural shift contrasted with the previous collective leadership model and resulted in Li Keqiang's power narrowing largely to administrative responsibilities, while Xi was officially recognized as the core of the Party's leadership. Evidence of this divergence includes Li's comment in 2020 about 600 million people earning around 1,000 RMB per month, which some analysts saw as undercutting Xi's poverty narrative.

The relationship was marked by a significant power imbalance where Li Keqiang was seen as a cautious bureaucrat, in contrast to the expanding power of Xi and his close associates. Li Keqiang promoted a slogan of "Reform is China's greatest dividend," termed "Likonomics," early in his tenure, but this policy focus appeared to clash with Xi's increasing prioritization of security and Party control. His political marginalization intensified leading up to 2022, and his death in October 2023 was widely interpreted as symbolizing the complete end of an era of relative openness under Xi Jinping's supreme authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

The political relationship between Li Keqiang and Xi Jinping was characterized by an increasing power imbalance during their shared administration. Li Keqiang, as the Premier, saw his authority steadily eroded as Xi Jinping centralized decision-making within Party organs, pushing Li into a more administrative role. This dynamic was evident as Xi Jinping's power expanded and was officially recognized as the Party's core.

Li Keqiang occasionally signaled policy divergence from the paramount leader, most notably by revealing in 2020 that 600 million people lived on about 1,000 RMB per month, which undercut Xi's poverty claims. While he was a cautious bureaucrat, such public statements were interpreted by some analysts as subtle challenges to Xi's official narrative.

The sudden death of Li Keqiang in October 2023 was widely regarded by analysts as symbolizing the complete end of the era of relative openness and economic reform associated with his political approach. His passing further fueled public dissatisfaction and distrust toward the current leadership under Xi Jinping.