Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji has died, according to state media. The official Xinhua news agency reported that Mr. Zhu died of illness in Beijing at around 11 a.m. on Wednesday (August 12, 2026). As mayor in 1989, Mr. Zhu gained a reputation for moderation when he placated protesters and pledged not to call in the military. Mr. Zhu broke with the leadership's stance of infallibility by admitting and taking blame for official failings. Mr. Zhu enlivened the party's bland image by cracking jokes in public, sometimes at his own expense.