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Former Chinese premier Li Peng
The memoirs shed a rare light on the decision-making process in the lead-up to the crackdown on Tiananmen pro-democracy protests on the night of June 3-4, 1989 that saw hundreds, if not thousands, killed.
"According to copyright information provided by relevant agencies and Hong Kong copyright law, original plans for the publication of 'Li Peng's Diary' on June 22 have been cancelled due to copyright issues," the publisher said online.
Bao Pu, head of the New Century Press, told AFP that media exposure ahead of the publication had been "premature."
"It gave time for all sorts of interests to interfere in the process," he said, adding the decision was "truly regretful."
The memoirs, which appear to be genuine, were potentially explosive as they detailed behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring over the Tiananmen crackdown that drew worldwide condemnation.
Bao said he had already received orders for 20,000 copies of the book, but had had to stop the printing process immediately.
In the diary, Li, who is 81 years old and reportedly in poor health, argues that the Tiananmen protests had to be extinguished to save China from chaos.
"The unrest now in Beijing is the biggest chaos since the nation was established," Li writes in a June 1 excerpt seen previously from an Internet posting.
"The loss of control in this situation has gone beyond the 'Great Cultural Revolution'," he said, referring to the 1966-1976 radical political campaigns triggered by late leader Mao Zedong.
Li has been vilified for announcing the imposition of martial law in May 1989 and for outmanoeuvring Zhao Ziyang, who was ousted by then President Deng Xiaoping as Communist Party head for opposing the use of force.
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"According to copyright information provided by relevant agencies and Hong Kong copyright law, original plans for the publication of 'Li Peng's Diary' on June 22 have been cancelled due to copyright issues," the publisher said online.
Bao Pu, head of the New Century Press, told AFP that media exposure ahead of the publication had been "premature."
"It gave time for all sorts of interests to interfere in the process," he said, adding the decision was "truly regretful."
The memoirs, which appear to be genuine, were potentially explosive as they detailed behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring over the Tiananmen crackdown that drew worldwide condemnation.
Bao said he had already received orders for 20,000 copies of the book, but had had to stop the printing process immediately.
In the diary, Li, who is 81 years old and reportedly in poor health, argues that the Tiananmen protests had to be extinguished to save China from chaos.
"The unrest now in Beijing is the biggest chaos since the nation was established," Li writes in a June 1 excerpt seen previously from an Internet posting.
"The loss of control in this situation has gone beyond the 'Great Cultural Revolution'," he said, referring to the 1966-1976 radical political campaigns triggered by late leader Mao Zedong.
Li has been vilified for announcing the imposition of martial law in May 1989 and for outmanoeuvring Zhao Ziyang, who was ousted by then President Deng Xiaoping as Communist Party head for opposing the use of force.
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