- Wade-Giles romanization:
- Li Pāeng
- Born:
- October 20, 1928, Chengdu, Sichuan province, China
- Died:
- July 22, 2019, Beijing (aged 90)
- Title / Office:
- prime minister (1988-1998), China
- Political Affiliation:
- Chinese Communist Party
Li Peng
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Who was Li Peng?
Li Peng was the premier of China from 1988 to 1998 and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peopleās Congress (NPC) from 1998 to 2003. The son of writer Li Shuoxun, he was cared for by Deng Yingchao, the wife of Zhou Enlai, after his father's execution in 1930. In 1941, Li went to the communistsā military base at Yanāan.
As premier, Li advocated for a cautious approach to economic liberalization, prioritizing economic and political stability under the central government's direction. He is known for advocating the suppression of student protests at Tiananmen Square in 1989, declaring martial law and sending armed forces to end the demonstrations. Despite this, China's economy grew rapidly during his premiership.
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When did Li Peng serve as the Prime Minister of China?
Li Peng served as the premier of China from 1988 to 1998, succeeding Zhao Ziyang after the latter became the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). During his premiership, Li advocated for a cautious approach to economic liberalization, prioritizing economic and political stability under the central government's direction. In 1998, upon the expiration of his second term as premier, Li was appointed chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peopleās Congress (NPC).
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What were some main responsibilities of Li Peng as Prime Minister?
As premier, Li Peng primarily oversaw the central government's operations and implemented the policies of Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin. His main concern was maintaining economic and political stability under the central government's direction, and he advocated a cautious approach to economic liberalization. During his time as premier, China's economy grew rapidly, with the GDP rising almost 10 percent a year, and living standards improved accordingly. He also oversaw Hong Kong's transfer to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997.
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What major events happened in China during Li Peng's time as Prime Minister?
Li Peng served as the premier of China from 1988 to 1998. During his premiership, several significant events unfolded:
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Tiananmen Square Protests: In April 1989, massive student protests erupted in Tiananmen Square, calling for economic reforms and democratic government. Li Peng, advocating for suppression, declared martial law and sent armed forces to end the demonstrations, resulting in heavy loss of life.
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Economic Growth: Despite the Tiananmen Square incident, the Chinese economy experienced rapid growth during Li's tenure, with GDP rising by almost 10 percent annually and improved living standards. Private enterprise expanded, and initial steps were taken to reform inefficient state-owned enterprises.
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Hong Kong Transfer: On July 1, 1997, Li Peng, along with President Jiang Zemin, oversaw the transfer of Hong Kong from British to Chinese sovereignty, marking the end of 156 years of British rule.
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Three Gorges Dam: In 1992, Li Peng successfully persuaded the National Peopleās Congress to proceed with the Three Gorges Dam project. Construction commenced in 1993, with the river being blocked and diverted in 1997.
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How did Li Peng respond to the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989?
As premier of China, Li Peng was a leading advocate for the suppression of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989. Viewing the student-led demonstrations as a threat to stability, he declared martial law on May 20 in Beijing. With the support of Deng Xiaoping, Li sent armed forces into the city in early June to end the protests, resulting in a heavy loss of life. Despite his role in the crackdown, Li continued to serve as premier and oversaw China's rapid economic growth.
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How do people in China and around the world view the legacy of Li Peng today?
Li Peng, premier of China from 1988 to 1998, is viewed through a complex lens both in China and internationally. He advocated for cautious economic liberalization, prioritizing stability under central government control.
However, Li is most remembered for his role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, where he advocated for the suppression of student protests. This event has made him personally unpopular with a large segment of the Chinese population, and damaged the Chinese Communist Party's international reputation. While the CCP acknowledges his contributions to economic reform, his legacy remains sensitive due to his association with the unfulfilled democratic aspirations of 1989.
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Li Peng (born October 20, 1928, Chengdu, Sichuan province, Chinaādied July 22, 2019, Beijing) was the premier of China from 1988 to 1998 and, from 1998 to 2003, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peopleās Congress (NPC).
The son of writer Li Shuoxun, who was executed by the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) in 1930, Li Peng from 1939 was cared for by Deng Yingchao, the wife of Zhou Enlai, and went to the communistsā military base at Yanāan in 1941. In 1948 Li was sent to Moscow, where he studied at the Moscow Power Institute. He returned to China in 1955. From 1955 to 1979 he supervised a number of major electrical power projects in China, and between 1979 and 1983 he served as vice-minister and minister of the power industry and first vice-minister of water resources and electric power. In June 1983 he was appointed vice-premier by the National Peopleās Congress. He also rose through the ranks of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), joining the Central Committee in 1982 and becoming an elected member of the Political Bureau (Politburo) and the Secretariat of the CCP 12th Central Committee in 1985. In 1987 Li became a member of the powerful Standing Committee of the Political Bureau. In April 1988 he was chosen to succeed Zhao Ziyang as premier after the latter had assumed the post of general secretary of the CCP.
Li advocated a cautious approach to economic liberalization, and his chief concern was the maintenance of economic and political stability under the direction of the central government. When massive student protests calling for economic reforms and more democratic government broke out at Tiananmen Square in Beijing in April 1989, Li was foremost among those advocating the demonstratorsā suppression by force if necessary. He won the support of Deng Xiaoping for his stance, and on May 20 he declared martial law in Beijing. In early June Li sent the armed forces into central Beijing to put an end to the demonstrations, with the consequent heavy loss of life.
As premier, Li oversaw the functioning of the central government and carried out the policies of Deng Xiaoping, Chinaās paramount leader, and Jiang Zemin, the general secretary of the CCP. Li was reappointed to a second five-year term as premier in 1993. During his long premiership the Chinese economy continued to grow at a rapid rate, with the GDP rising by almost 10 percent a year and living standards improving accordingly. Private enterprise steadily expanded and began to assume the dominant role in the economy, while the first steps were taken to stop subsidizing the large, inefficient state-owned enterprises that had become a drag on Chinaās continued growth. Despite Liās success in managing the economy, he remained personally unpopular with a large segment of the Chinese people because of his part in the violent suppression of the Tiananmen demonstrations in 1989. On July 1, 1997, he oversaw with President Jiang Zemin the transfer of the British crown colony of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty, ending 156 years of British rule.
Upon the expiration of his second term as premier (the maximum allowed under the constitution), Li in 1998 was appointed to serve as chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC. He also kept his seat on the standing committee of the Political Bureau, thereby remaining one of the most powerful figures in both the party and government. Li resigned from his party posts in 2002 and stepped down from the NPC in 2003.