李鵬是中國政壇的重要人物之一，他擔任過多項要職，包括中國國務院總理(1988~1998)和全國人大常委會委員長(1998~2003)。作為“紅色太子黨”出身的政治家，李鵬的一生伴隨著中國從計劃經濟向市場經濟的過渡，以及一系列重要的政治和社會事件。他的生平充滿功與過，尤其在中國現代史上，扮演的角色引發廣泛爭議。

生於1928年，於2019年7月22日在北京去世，享年91歲。是中國共產黨早期成員李碩勛之子，繼承“紅色革命”的政治血統。畢業於蘇聯莫斯科動力學院水利發電系，水利工程的背景，為後來的職業生涯奠定基礎。李鵬在能源和電力領域積累豐富的經驗，並最終擔任中國電力工業的主管，為中國的基礎設施建設做出貢獻。改革開放初期，中國的經濟開始快速發展，參與許多大型基礎設施項目，如三峽大壩。這一工程雖然充滿爭議，但從能源角度來說，確實對中國的電力供應和防洪產生深遠影響。支持者認為，三峽大壩是李鵬為中國能源安全和經濟發展做出的重要貢獻之一。

然而，最大的爭議來自他在1989年六四天安門事件中的表現。1989年，隨著經濟改革的深入，社會問題日益突出，尤其是腐敗問題和收入分配不公，激起全國範圍內的抗議。作為國務院總理，李鵬被認為是鎮壓抗議的關鍵推手之一。在那場事件中，數以萬計的學生和市民走上北京天安門廣場，要求民主和政治改革。面對抗議的持續升級，李鵬代表黨內保守派，主張對抗議採取強硬立場。1989年6月3日晚上到6月4日凌晨，政府最終動用軍隊清場，導致大量傷亡。李鵬在事件後發表的電視講話中，公開為鎮壓辯護，稱這是為“維護國家穩定”。六四事件成為李鵬政治生涯中最為人詬病的一部分，也因此被貼上“屠夫”的標籤。

從這一歷史節點看，李鵬的政治理念顯然屬於強硬的保守派。他對自由化的改革持謹慎甚至反對態度，認為中國的穩定和黨內控制至關重要。儘管鄧小平的改革開放政策在經濟上取得巨大成就，但李鵬始終對政治改革保持警惕。他認為，如果沒有黨的絕對控制，中國可能會陷入動盪。因此，反對更大規模的民主化和自由化改革，主張國家在經濟發展過程中必須維持穩定，哪怕這意味著要通過強硬的手段來鎮壓異議。

在1998年卸任總理職務後，繼續擔任全國人大常委會委員長直到2003年。這一職位雖然沒有總理的實際行政權力，但在中國的政治體系中具有重要的立法權力。在此期間，繼續捍衛國家對經濟和社會生活的強硬控制，反對過度自由化。可以說，他的政治遺產之一就是為中國現代化進程中的“穩定優先”方針奠定基礎，儘管這種穩定是以犧牲部分公民自由和人權為代價的。

李鵬在位期間也被指責腐敗，特別是他的家族在電力行業和其他國有部門的掌控被外界廣泛質疑。儘管如此，仍然被某些保守派視為對維護國家穩定和秩序做出重要貢獻的政治家，尤其是在他強調國家控制和中央集權的治國理念下。這些理念塑造中國在李鵬時代的部分發展方向，也延續至今。

Li Peng was one of the most significant figures in Chinese politics, holding several key positions, including Premier of the State Council (1988–1998) and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (1998–2003). As a politician born into the "princelings" of the Chinese Communist Party, Li's life was marked by China's transition from a planned economy to a market economy, as well as a series of pivotal political and social events. His legacy is both praised and criticized, particularly for the controversial role he played in modern Chinese history.

Born in 1928, Li Peng passed away in Beijing on July 22, 2019, at the age of 91. He was the son of Li Shuoxun, an early member of the Chinese Communist Party, inheriting a "red revolutionary" political lineage. Li Peng graduated from the Moscow Power Engineering Institute, where he studied hydroelectric power, which laid the foundation for his later career. Li accumulated substantial experience in the energy and electricity sectors, eventually overseeing China's power industry and contributing to the nation's infrastructure development. During the early years of China's economic reform, the economy began to grow rapidly, and Li was involved in many large-scale infrastructure projects, such as the Three Gorges Dam. Although the project was highly controversial, from an energy perspective, it had a profound impact on China's power supply and flood control. Supporters believe that the Three Gorges Dam was one of Li Peng’s significant contributions to China’s energy security and economic development.

However, the greatest controversy surrounding Li stems from his role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square Incident. In 1989, as economic reforms deepened, social issues such as corruption and income inequality became more prominent, sparking nationwide protests. As Premier, Li Peng is widely seen as one of the key figures behind the crackdown on the protests. In that year, tens of thousands of students and citizens took to Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, calling for democracy and political reform. As the protests escalated, Li, representing the conservative faction within the Party, advocated for a hardline response. On the night of June 3 to the early hours of June 4, 1989, the government deployed military force to clear the square, resulting in heavy casualties. In a televised speech afterward, Li publicly defended the crackdown, claiming it was necessary to "maintain national stability." The Tiananmen Square Incident became the most heavily criticized part of Li’s political career, earning him the label of “the butcher.”

From this historical moment, Li Peng’s political ideology clearly aligned with hardline conservatism. He was cautious, if not outright opposed, to liberal reforms, believing that China’s stability and Party control were paramount. While Deng Xiaoping’s reform and opening-up policies achieved significant economic success, Li remained wary of political reforms. He believed that without absolute Party control, China could descend into chaos. As a result, he opposed greater democratization and liberalization, insisting that stability must be maintained throughout the country’s economic development, even if that meant using harsh measures to suppress dissent.

After stepping down as Premier in 1998, Li Peng continued to serve as Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress until 2003. Although this position did not carry the executive authority of the Premier’s office, it held significant legislative power in China’s political system. During this period, Li continued to uphold the strong control of the state over economic and social affairs and resisted excessive liberalization. One could say that his political legacy includes laying the foundation for the "stability-first" approach in China's modernization process, though this stability often came at the cost of certain civil liberties and human rights.

Li Peng’s tenure was also marred by allegations of corruption, particularly regarding his family’s control over the power industry and other state-owned sectors, which were widely scrutinized. Nevertheless, some conservatives still view him as a politician who made important contributions to maintaining national stability and order, especially under his governance philosophy of state control and centralization. These principles shaped part of China’s development trajectory during his time in power and continue to influence the country today.

照片:Dalle3