Former Chinese Premier Li Peng died on Tuesday at 90 years old.
Li served as premier from 1988 to 1998 and was best known for declaring martial law on television in response to the Tiananmen Square Protests in 1989.
He claimed that the protesters were enemies of the Communist Party and that they threatened “the fate and future of the People’s Republic of China.” After the announcement, he became known as the “Butcher of Beijing” for his role in the massacre.
Today, challenging the Chinese account of the Tiananmen Square Massacre can lead to detention.
Many still dispute the role Li played in the massacre. However, his appearance on television made him synonymous with the killings. Li would go on to argue that the decision could only have been made by the party’s leader at the time, Deng Xiaoping. Regardless, many still believe he should be held on trial for his participation in the event.
It is unknown how many people died as a result of the killings, and China has never released the death total. Human rights groups estimates range from hundreds to thousands.
China continues to deny that anyone died during the massacre. Even if his role was limited, the massacre became a symbol of government run amok, and Li will always be seen by many as a crucial figure in that moment.
Outside of Tiananmen Square, Li is also known for helping build the Three Gorges Dam, a major dam project on the base of the Yangtze River. The project was meant to help boats navigate the river as well as produce electricity. While it did produce plenty of electricity, it is also known for its profound effect on the surrounding environment, displacing millions, and contributing to flooding around the world.
Chinese authorities have yet to disclose how Li died.
