Jiang Zemin

Jiang gave up his last official title in 2004 but remained a force behind the scenes in the wrangling that led to the rise of current President Xi, who took power in 2012.

In pics | Jiang Zemin dies at 96: A look at the life and times of former Chinese president

Jiang Zemin died of leukaemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai, where he was a former mayor and Communist Party secretary

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin has died: state media

Jiang died from leukemia and multiple organ failure in Shanghai at 12:13 p.m., the official Xinhua news agency said.

Backroom battle delaying reform of China's one-child policy

Two retired senior Chinese officials are engaged in a battle with one another to sway Beijing's new leadership over the future of the one-child policy, exposing divisions that have impeded progress in a crucial area of reform.