Big questions that went unasked at Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s press conference
China’s Premier Li Keqiang addressed many issues during his wide-ranging press conference as he took questions from journalists at the end of the National People’s Congress in Beijing on Wednesday. But the questions asked in the two-hour-long session did not touch on some major topics of concern to the public. Here are some of the notable absences.
Environment
Over the past three years since he became premier, Li Keqiang has always answered a question on China’s efforts to curb pollution, but the topic was not mentioned during Thursday’s press conference.
READ MORE: China will use ‘iron fist’ against pollution, Premier Li Keqiang vows
Property market
Premier Li highlighted the importance of reducing financial risks in the economy while answering his first question at the briefing and elaborated on economic development, but did not directly mention this major issue concerning the mainland public as property prices soar in the country’s biggest cities.
READ MORE: China not headed for Japan-style property bust, says minister
It was also the first time the property market was not asked in his annual press conference since he became premier. The issue of turbulent trading on China’s stock markets was also not raised.
State enterprise reform
Li answered questions about economic reform and highlighted the importance of revitalising the economy through streamlining bureaucracy and reducing taxes, but the elephant in the room - how to reform China’s ailing state enterprises - was not mentioned.
READ MORE: China wants to see results from reform of state firms by 2020
Europe, North Korea ... and the South China Sea
While Li answered questions on China’s ties with the United States, Russia, South Korea and Japan, plus gave an overview on the nation’s stance on regional relations in Asia, the premier did not mention ties with Europe and Africa. He also did not specifically address rising tensions over China’s increasingly assertive territorial claims in the South China Sea.
READ MORE: China may send anti-ship missiles to disputed South China Sea to beef up defence: analysts
Neither was there mention of the diplomatic row over the nuclear test and missile launches in North Korea.
Human rights, ethnic tensions and anti-terror operations
These are not topics that crop up at every press conference, but premiers have on occasion addressed more sensitive issues such as human rights, anti-terrorism operations and matters concerning ethnic minorities in Tibet and Xinjiang.
READ MORE: China’s Xinjiang region to draft laws to combat religious extremism amid series of violent attacks blamed on Islamic militants
There was no mention of these topics at this year’s press briefing.
