Hawkish Chinese state media Global Times has claimed that foreign agents are making use of the death of "rumour-monger"-turned-whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang to stir up anti-government sentiments.

Taking Li's death as a tool to stir up anti-govt sentiment on Chinese social media is part of overseas separatists' customary tactics, as they used in #HK protest. Such move is obnoxious and childish, said experts. https://t.co/n5XA3KuLH9 pic.twitter.com/X4c7SEhce4

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) February 8, 2020

"Overseas anti-China forces" out to incite "social movements"

Citing "experts", Global Times claimed in a tweet on Saturday, Feb. 8, that such a move was used to instigate the Hong Kong protests as well, calling it "obnoxious and childish".

In an article, it further claimed that while many in mainland China were mourning Li's death, "Hong Kong and anti-China groups" were getting people to "sensationalise the story on Chinese social media in efforts to spread negative publicity on the mainland and incite the so-called democratic movement".

It also accused "overseas anti-China forces" of an online post that "incited Wuhan residents to congregate and whistle in solidarity with Li", adding that such attempts to incite such "social movements" are "doomed to fail".

The article further said Chinese netizens are aware of such "malicious actions", and criticised the "anti-China groups" for "exploiting Li's death and agitating public sorrow".

Li not a "political dissident"

In addition, it mocked such groups for trying to portray Li as a "political dissident", saying he could not have been one, as he was a member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The article further said there were Chinese netizens who criticised such a portrayal of Li, saying Li was not a dissident as he had "expressed his willingness to fight the virus in the frontline as soon as he (recovered)".

Rare dissent from the Chinese over Li's death

Li's death on Friday, Feb. 7, sparked a widespread outpouring of grief among Chinese social media users.

Several users took the opportunity to call out the authorities' unwarranted persecution and vilification of Li as well.

The doctor was vindicated by China's Supreme People's Court.

The hashtag, "Can you do it? Do you understand?" -- questions that Li was forced to answer on a police letter the day he was arrested -- was used to voice dissent against the government.

#不能不明白 #李文亮 #coronavirus #Dr. Li #Li Wenliang
他走了，带着造谣者烙印走的！😭😭
他走了，作孽者会有所收敛吗？😤😤 pic.twitter.com/ThyGXfYVgo

— 一叶一追寻 (@ToddnayRaynard1) February 7, 2020

The hashtag was later scrubbed off Weibo, but other phrases used to express their dissatisfaction with the authorities, such as the song title, Do you hear the people sing?, could still be found.

Death was reported twice by state media

State media's reporting of his death twice was also said to be the authorities' attempt at dealing with the public backlash that ensued after initial reports leaked that the doctor had died.

Although his death was first reported late Thursday, Feb. 6, the news was swiftly deleted when it became one of the most searched items on Weibo with 12 million hits.

Wuhan Central Hospital, where Li was treated at, later said on Weibo that Li was undergoing emergency treatment, before finally confirming his death early on Friday, Feb. 7.

Dali Yang, a political science professor at the University of Chicago, told AFP that the delay in reporting Li's death was likely instructed by the authorities to show they had put in effort to try and save the doctor, given the strong outpouring of emotions over news of his sudden passing from a virus he had warned about.

It is also possible that the central government's announcement of an investigation into the issues raised by the public over Li's death could be the authorities' way of showing that they are aware of the serious nature of the situation, and the need to ameliorate some of the anger and distrust from the public that arose over the incident.

Top image adapted via Weibo