Li Peng, who has died aged 90, was one of the most influential politicians in China during the first two decades of the “reform and opening up” process begun under Deng Xiaoping in 1978. He had perfect revolutionary credentials, and roots within the Communist party, but will be remembered most for his role in the events of 1989, which saw the suppression of student demonstrators by the armed forces in which hundreds if not thousands died.
As premier and head of government, Li Peng ordered the pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square in May of that year to return to their campuses. After this failed, he declared martial law on 20 May, and issued the order for crack troops from the People’s Liberation Army to move in on the demonstration in the early hours of 4 June.
