Li Keqiang's brother leaves leadership role at China's state tobacco monopoly

Li Keming, younger brother of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, has been removed from his position as vice director of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a statement from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The younger Li’s departure from position, often cited by observers as a conflict of interest between the government and the cigarette makers it regulates, comes as leaders consider increased smoking restrictions nationwide. He will instead take up a post with the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission. For more on China’s smoking problem, see CER’s interview with the World Health Organization’s representative in China.