CHINA’S intellectuals and netizens mourned the death of Taiwan’s famous writer, critic and historian Li Ao yesterday.

“His life ended, so does a world [marked by his characters].” Many have echoed this sentiment published by Kevin Tsai, a famous Taiwanese writer and TV host, in a post on social media.

Li, who has been suffering from a brain tumor since July 2015, died at the age of 83 Sunday, according to Taipei Veterans General Hospital.

Chinese mainland officials also expressed condolences over the passing of Li. “We are saddened to hear of the passing of Li and express our sincere condolences to his family,” Zhang Zhijun, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a message to Li’s family.

Li exhibited strong nationalist leanings, upheld national reunification, opposed “Taiwan independence,” promoted Chinese culture and devoted himself to cross-Strait exchanges, Zhang said.

Chen Deming, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, also sent a message of condolence to Li’s family, praising the writer’s efforts to promote Chinese culture, support China’s reunification and boost cross-Strait exchanges.

Li was a prominent Taiwan writer and an outspoken TV commentator, historian and lawmaker. He was well known by mainland intellectuals for his satire, sharp commentaries and poignant criticism. He is considered by some to be one of the best modern Chinese writers today. He wrote at an amazing rate — for 10 consecutive years he wrote one book per month on average without interruption. His novel “Martyrs’ Shrine: The Story of the Reform Movement of 1898 in China,” about the beginning and the failure of the Hundred Days’ Reform, earned a Nobel Prize nomination. (SD-Agencies)