The image shows Chinese Premier Li Qiang. (Jeon Heon-kyun - Pool/Getty Images)
[People News] Since Xi Jinping's appearance in Yangquan, Shanxi on July 7, the official Chinese media has published a series of articles, phone calls, letters, and other news related to Xi, continuing until July 14. On that day, Xi attended the Central Urban Work Conference and delivered a speech, with the other six members of the Standing Committee—Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi—also in attendance.
According to the official reports, Xi summarised the "achievements of urban development in our country since the new era, analysing the challenges facing urban work," while Li Qiang provided a concluding speech, outlining specific measures to "further enhance urban work."
The most striking aspect of the official news is the accompanying photographs. The report featured three photos: one of Xi Jinping, one of Li Qiang, and a panoramic shot of the seven Standing Committee members along with other attendees. The most intriguing of these is the photo of Li Qiang. His photo matches the length of Xi's but is slightly narrower, and Li Qiang's image appears somewhat smaller than Xi's.
In my recollection, during the period when Xi was the preeminent leader, similar reports featuring Xi's speeches and Li Qiang's summaries did not include any photos of Li Qiang, let alone one where his photo was nearly the same size as Xi's.
For instance, in the official media report on the Central Economic Work Conference held in Beijing from December 11 to 12, 2023, aside from Xi's half-body close-up and the panoramic photo of the seven Standing Committee members and attendees, there was no photo of Li Qiang at all.
Similar situations have also been observed in state media reports about the Central Foreign Affairs Work Conference held in Beijing from December 27 to 28, 2023. Similarly, in the news regarding Xi Jinping's presiding over the symposium on promoting the development of the western region in the new era on April 23, 2024, although Li Qiang delivered a speech, there were no photographs of him included in the news reports.
It is evident that during Xi's complete control over power, the rumours of Li Qiang being a 'shadow' Premier are not without basis, particularly highlighted by their joint appearances at the same events. Li Qiang's low profile and tendency to 'stay out of the spotlight' also indicate his keen awareness of his actual position within the hierarchy.
However, following the reports of Xi's serious illness during the Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party in July last year, and the subsequent widespread rumours about Xi losing power, unusual developments have also surfaced within the upper ranks of the Communist Party, including Li Qiang. He has attended several significant events that were originally intended for Xi, and these events have been notably more high-profile than in the past.
For example, Li Qiang recently represented Xi at the BRICS conference held in Brazil.
On May 16 of this year, the Communist Party's 'Seventh National Self-Reliance Model and Advanced Recognition Conference for Assisting the Disabled' took place in Beijing, where Li Qiang met with conference representatives prior to the meeting and took photos with them, while Xi merely issued instructions. In the previous two conferences, Xi had personally met with the representatives.
On November 5, 2024, the 7th China International Import Expo and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum will take place in Shanghai. Xi Jinping did not attend, but Li Qiang was present at the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Notably, he did not mention Xi's name or refer to any letters from him during his address. This is significant because in the previous five editions of this expo, which Xi personally planned, proposed, organised, and promoted, he either attended in person or delivered five keynote speeches or addresses via video, even during the pandemic.
Interestingly, in the news released by state media about the Central Urban Work Conference, it is noteworthy that Li Qiang's photo was included, and its size is comparable to Xi's. This clearly indicates that Li Qiang's status within the upper ranks of the Communist Party has indeed risen, and the rumours regarding changes in Xi's status are not without basis.
Furthermore, there is another point that supports the idea of Li Qiang's elevated status. Ten years ago, from December 20 to 21, 2015, the Central Urban Work Conference was also held, where Xi led Premier Li Keqiang and six other Standing Committee members. At that time, state media reported that both Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang delivered speeches. Xi 'analysed the situation facing urban development and clarified the guiding ideology, overall approach, and key tasks for urban work,' while Li Keqiang 'discussed the current focus of urban work in his speech, proposed specific deployments for urban work, and delivered a concluding address.'
In a 2015 report by Xinhua Net, photos of Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang were published side by side. The dimensions and portrayal of Li's photo were slightly different from Xi's, contrasting with the recent images of Xi and Li Qiang. At that time, Li Keqiang was still a powerful Premier, and he did not necessarily align with Xi on certain issues. However, following Xi Jinping's centralisation of power at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Li Keqiang's influence gradually diminished. Thus, the current reporting by the official Chinese Communist Party media, using the format from a decade ago, suggests that Li Qiang, as Premier, now wields power that is distinct from the past three years, indicating that he is at least no longer a weak Premier.
(First published by People News)△
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