China has sacked Premier Li Keqiang's brother as deputy head of the tobacco monopoly.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said Li Keming, who sat as Vice Director at the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), was removed from his post as part of a broad reshuffle. The department said Li will take another post in a supervisory committee tasked to oversee state-owned enterprises.

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Li, was appointed in the tobacco monopoly since 2003. His sacking came amid criticisms from anti-smoking advocates who said the government's grip on the tobacco agency was too loose. 

In May 2009, the Ministry of Health had pushed for a 2-year campaign for a total ban on smoking, particulalry in health offices and medical facilities. This was considered a big step from the government, as it struggles with the health impacts of smoking.

Still, the tobacco monopoly countered efforts of the government to curb smoking. This resulted in the weakening of a legislation that would push for a total ban on smoking --- a move that angered anti-smoking activists.

The STMA controls nearly a hundred percent of China's tobacco market. China is the world's largest consumer and producer of tobacco products. It has 350 million smokers, and 42 percent of cigarettes in the world come from China.

Last year, China had proposed to increase cigarette prices and taxes. The State Council had also issued a draft regulation to ban indoor smoking, limit outdoor smoking and scrap tobacco advertising.

However, the head of  STMA defended his agency and took a swipe at anti-smoking advocates, saying they should not take an "absolutist" direction because smoking as a habit has had hundreds of years of history, not to mention the existing demand for it. 

The tobacco monopoly provides much of the government's revenues. In 2013, it has brought an estimated CNY816 billion (over US$130 billion) in government income.

Tagstobacco monopoly, Li Keming, Li Keqiang, State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, anti-smoking