The Brazilian President's Wife Expresses Gratitude to Peng Liyuan for Her Changed Remarks, Further Indicating That Xi's Status Has Diminished

On March 5, 2023, CCP leaders attended the opening session of the National People's Congress

[People News] According to a report from the Chinese Communist Party's Xinhua News Agency, on the afternoon of May 13, Peng Liyuan, the wife of CCP leader Xi Jinping, and Rosangela, the wife of Brazilian President Lula, who is on a state visit to China, toured the National Centre for the Performing Arts. Following the visit, Peng Liyuan invited Rosangela to enjoy selections from classic operas and a performance featuring a chorus of Chinese and Brazilian songs.

Peng Liyuan remarked that both China and Brazil are cultural giants, and in recent years, cultural exchanges between the two nations have flourished, leading to a deepening mutual understanding and friendship among their peoples. She expressed hope that both sides would continue this positive trend and foster closer ties between their citizens. Rosangela conveyed her "sincere gratitude for Peng Liyuan's warm and thoughtful arrangements" and expressed her commitment to actively promoting cultural exchanges between the two countries, further contributing to the strengthening of Brazil-China friendship.

From the official media reports, everything appears to be in order; both first ladies articulated their aspirations for enhancing bilateral relations from the perspective of their roles as the spouses of the highest leaders. However, when these reports are compared to those from similar events in 2023 by CCP official media, a subtle discrepancy becomes apparent.

The year 2023 marked the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party, during which Xi successfully secured his third term and reached the pinnacle of power within the party. On April 14, 2023, Peng Liyuan met with Rosangela in Beijing, and the accompanying images indicated that their meeting took place in a very formal setting, rather than during a casual tour of a tourist attraction.

At that time, Peng Liyuan expressed her delight in meeting Ms. Rosangela, stating, "I hope that President Lula and his wife have a pleasant trip to China and achieve fruitful results, and I wish for the friendship between China and Brazil to grow stronger over time." In response, Ms. Rosangela "thanked President Xi Jinping and Ms. Peng Liyuan for their warm reception of President Lula and herself," and she expressed her desire to deepen her understanding of China and contribute to promoting friendly cooperation between Brazil and China. 

The two women, who do not hold formal official positions, met separately yet mentioned their husbands, who were absent. This goes beyond mere diplomatic engagement among spouses; such diplomatic language is typically found in discussions between their husbands. Is this an effort to emphasise Peng Liyuan's status? 

This was certainly not the only unusual incident that year. In April 2023, Peng Liyuan met with Mrs. Sylvia, who accompanied the President of Gabon on a visit, and in May, she made similar remarks when meeting with Mrs. Denise, who accompanied the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

There had been considerable speculation overseas regarding Peng Liyuan's role, with some analyses suggesting that she might become more politically active. Additionally, there were rumours within the Chinese Communist Party that Peng Liyuan was playing a behind-the-scenes role in helping Xi consolidate power. She had previously served on the Central Military Commission's Cadre Evaluation Committee, established after the military reform in 2016, aimed at ensuring that the selected generals were loyal to the highest leadership. As Xi's power reached its zenith in 2023, Peng Liyuan's status was elevated, as evidenced by her statements during several meetings with foreign presidential spouses.

However, everything changed again following the 20th Central Committee's Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China in July last year. Amid rampant rumours regarding the party leader's illness, palace intrigue, and potential coups, there has been a growing body of evidence suggesting his loss of military authority and a decline in his standing within the party. Over the past ten months, reports of the arrests, investigations, and power removals of his military and party loyalists, along with state and military media coverage that undermines Xi, have been continuous. Furthermore, Xi's diminishing status has had a direct effect on the position of his wife, Peng Liyuan.

According to information the author received last year, Peng Liyuan has been ousted from the Military Commission's cadre evaluation committee. Her return to her original role during a recent meeting with the First Lady of Brazil also highlights a significant issue, further confirming that Xi's status aligns with the rumours circulating in the outside world. 

(First published by People News)