China censors public mourning as it holds former premier's funeral
China has held a low-key funeral for former Premier Zhu Rongji while simultaneously censoring public mourning and online discourse. The state is wary that nostalgia for Zhu's era of economic reform could be used to criticize the current leadership under Xi Jinping.
Why it matters
The censorship highlights the Chinese government's sensitivity to public sentiment and its efforts to control the historical narrative surrounding economic reform.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Laura Bicker , China correspondent, Beijing and Koh Ewe Getty Images Zhu Rongji served as China's premier from 1998 to 2003, leading China through a series of key economic reforms Flags at government sites are flying at half-mast and security vehicles are parked in the heart of Beijing, as China mourns former Premier Zhu Rongji.
Zhu died of an illness last week at 97 and was cremated at a funeral in Beijing on Tuesday. The ceremony, attended by senior leaders including President Xi Jinping, was kept low-key. No footage has been released.
Zhu, who served as China's premier from 1998 to 2003, is remembered as one of the country's most important economic reformers.
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