Da Li Gerüchten zufolge nach dem Tod seines Vaters von Zhou Enlai adoptiert worden war – was Li abstreitet – trafen ihn Zweifel an seiner Abstammung an einer besonders empfindlichen Stelle.
Since Li was rumored to have been adopted by Zhou Enlai after his own father was killed – a claim Li has denied – calling his parentage into question was an especially stinging affront.