He is the great survivor of Chinese politics. Only five months after entering the Politburo in November 1987, Li Peng was made premier. He served two five-year terms, surviving the traumatic Tiananmen crackdown of 1989, in which he was a key player. Li, an adopted son of the late premier Zhou Enlai, still ranks second only to Jiang Zemin within the Communist Party - with Premier Zhu Rongji No. 3. Court Intrigue Jiang Zemin wants another term as No. 1 leader.
Some top mandarins oppose the idea.
He does not oppose reform or China's opening to the world, but advocates a slower, more cautious pace. Many Chinese loathe him for the same reason, and for a perceived personal coldness. Still, his years at the helm of the state machinery and the many people he placed in key positions give him enormous influence. The most powerful and able among Li's allies is Luo Gan, 64. Like his mentor, Luo is an engineer by training.