Former Xinhua News Agency reporter Gu Wanming has been sentenced and stripped of his retirement benefits for questioning the cause of Li Keqiang’s death. (Screenshot from the internet)
[People News] The mystery surrounding Li Keqiang’s death has yet to dissipate, but retired Xinhua News Agency reporter Gu Wanming has already been sentenced and deprived of his retirement benefits by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for questioning the circumstances of Li's passing. This has once again brought the sensitive topic into the public spotlight. Some articles argue that during the National People’s Congress (NPC) session in March 2023, when Li Keqiang finished delivering the government work report and shook hands with Xi Jinping, the two did not make eye contact. Cai Qi took notice of this moment, and it was only a matter of time before Li Keqiang met trouble.
According to a report by Dajiyuan, former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang suddenly passed away in Shanghai on October 27, 2023. On October 30 of the same year, Gu Wanming, a retired Xinhua journalist and CCP member, issued an open letter demanding an official investigation into Li’s death, outlining five specific requests:
1. Suspend the cremation of Li Keqiang’s remains pending an investigation. 2. Establish a joint investigation team led by the CCP Central Committee and the State Council to determine the true cause of death. 3. Investigate all individuals involved and hold those responsible accountable. 4. Conduct an autopsy on Li’s body. 5. Form a funeral committee to ensure Li Keqiang receives the appropriate burial rites.
On February 9, 2025, independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed on his X (formerly Twitter) account that in November 2024, Gu Wanming was sentenced to one year in prison for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Additionally, authorities revoked Gu’s retirement benefits, stating that he was no longer considered a retired Xinhua employee.
On February 25, independent commentator Du Zheng published an article in the Taiwanese media outlet Up Media, citing sources from Beijing’s political circles. The article claimed that Xi Jinping’s close ally, Cai Qi, personally ordered severe punishment for Gu Wanming.
The article argues that Gu’s sentencing suggests that Li Keqiang’s true cause of death remains a highly sensitive issue for the authorities. From the perspective of the CCP’s bureaucratic system, even if Gu’s letter was not directly targeting Xi Jinping, it inevitably implicated key figures within Xi’s inner circle—most notably Cai Qi, a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee and director of the Central Office.
According to Wang Yukai, a professor at China’s National Academy of Governance, specific regulations exist within the Central Office regarding the movements of retired Politburo Standing Committee members, covering security, transportation, reception, and other logistical aspects. Whether due to deliberate harm or accidental negligence, Cai Qi and the Central Security Bureau, which he oversees, cannot evade responsibility for Li Keqiang’s death. However, the authorities have refused to assign blame to any individuals. During Li Keqiang’s funeral, this tension was evident. When Cai Qi extended a single-handed handshake to Li’s widow, Cheng Hong, she refused to meet his gaze, and Li Keqiang’s daughter reportedly looked at him with a cold and stern expression.
The article argues that if Cai Qi was indeed responsible for Li Keqiang’s downfall, then Xi Jinping cannot be absolved of responsibility. Xi has relentlessly pursued absolute power, aiming to establish himself as the undisputed leader. One of his biggest obstacles was the Tuanpai (Communist Youth League faction), particularly Li Keqiang. Throughout Li’s tenure, rumors of “Xi-Li discord” and speculation about a potential “Xi stepping down, Li stepping up” persisted, exacerbating tensions between the two.
The article concludes that during the March 2023 National People’s Congress, when Li Keqiang delivered his final government work report, Xi and Li’s decade-long working relationship culminated in a brief and indifferent handshake without eye contact. Cai Qi took note of this dynamic, and even if Xi said nothing, Li’s fate was already sealed.
The article further highlights the ruthless nature of CCP politics, stating that this political treachery is the fundamental reason why Gu Wanming, as a supporter of Li Keqiang, was harshly punished.
On February 25, author Yuan Bin published an article in The Epoch Times, stating that all of Gu Wanming’s demands were entirely reasonable and lawful, without violating any of the CCP’s own regulations. However, Gu was arrested, criminally detained for a year, sentenced for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” and stripped of his retirement benefits.
“The suppression of Gu Wanming highlights the CCP’s extremely fragile political mindset—it is highly sensitive to any voice that might challenge the official narrative, even when such concerns stem from legitimate public interest. As former Central Party School professor Cai Xia pointed out, having different political views should have no bearing on one’s right to retirement benefits. Yet in reality, those who dare to speak out not only face legal risks but may also be deprived of their most basic social security rights. This kind of ‘guilt by association’ punishment is nothing more than an attempt to intimidate potential critics, discouraging the public from questioning or challenging the authorities.”
However, the article argues that such extreme measures only deepen public suspicion. In an era of unrestricted information flow, the CCP’s attempts to suppress public discourse through high-pressure tactics are unlikely to succeed. Instead, these efforts will reinforce the perception that the government is not combating crime but rather desperately trying to conceal the truth.
As for whether there was any hidden agenda behind Li Keqiang’s death, the outside world has no way of knowing. However, if his death were truly natural, entirely normal, and without any suspicious circumstances, would the authorities be afraid of public scrutiny? Of course not. But the CCP’s aggressive crackdown—sentencing Gu Wanming simply for questioning the cause of Li’s death—only raises more doubts. Such an excessive response is akin to the saying, “The more one tries to cover up, the more one reveals.” Does this not, in fact, validate public speculation that Li Keqiang’s death was anything but natural?
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