Architect of Modern China; guided reform and opening (1978–1989)
China’s anti-corruption drive has purged senior officials, including a Politburo member, highlighting efforts to enforce loyalty and clamp down on corruption within the CCP. The latest expulsions follow investigations announced earlier in the year; authorities describe the actions as part of maintaining discipline in a top-down system.
Zhu Rongji has died in Beijing at 98. Xinhua confirms his death after medical treatment failed. He chaired China’s economy as premier from 1998 to 2003, steering reforms that liberalized markets, pushed state firms toward efficiency, and helped secure WTO membership. His tenure coincided with rapid growth and rising inequality, and his legacy is seen differently inside and outside China.