Peng Peiyun, Jiang Kun, and Other 'double-faced Individuals': Who Has Better Acting Skills?

Photo Caption: The first session of the 14th National People's Congress will open on March 5, 2023, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

[People News] In the realm of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), 'double-faced individuals' are ubiquitous. While they are not actors, they can adapt their personas according to the varying demands of their double lives, arguably making them more actor-like than actual performers. Let’s examine how these CCP officials present themselves and how they are perceived by the public after their passing.

Peng Peiyun, the former head of the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the CCP, died on December 21. She had enforced the stringent 'one-child policy' for ten years. The CCP's official media, Xinhua News Agency, lauded her as an 'outstanding leader in women's and children's affairs', yet Chinese netizens responded with curses to 'send her off'.

One netizen remarked: 'Those naked children who died are waiting for you on the other side.' Another comment noted: 'If those children had lived, they would be nearing 40 years old now, in the prime of their lives.' A further comment stated: 'The billions of suffering women and children are welcoming you with open arms over there.'

In July 2009, Peng Peiyun was interviewed by Caijing Magazine, where she reflected on her reassignment to the role of director of the National Health and Family Planning Commission. She mentioned having 'some thoughts' about the family planning policy, but asserted, 'As a Communist Party member, I can only comply with the transfer and am determined to do my utmost to fulfil my responsibilities.'

However, what remains more prominent in the public's memory is her steadfast defence of the family planning policy: 'If the population policy is even slightly skewed, or if mistakes occur in its implementation, it will lead to a rebound in the birth rate.'

Following the death of Peng Peiyun, screenshots of her statements emphasising that "the national policy of family planning must remain unchanged for a hundred years" during her tenure continue to circulate widely on Chinese social media.

These reports suggest that, as a woman and a mother, Peng Peiyun may have experienced some inner remorse; however, as a member of the Communist Party, she steadfastly enforced the party's policies. This reflects her dual existence.

Next, let's examine the recently popular crosstalk performer Jiang Kun within the Communist Party system.

According to a report by mainland media outlet NetEase, Jiang Kun played the accordion and provided improvised accompaniment while a group sang "My Motherland, we cannot be separated for a moment" against the backdrop of California's twilight, vividly expressing their patriotism. This scene incited backlash from netizens, as it was revealed that Jiang Kun's so-called motherland was actually the United States. Following this, a netizen composed a humorous song titled "Patriotic Performance" that went viral. The lyrics read, "Though I wear foreign clothes, my salary is still Chinese. Drinking red wine and singing red songs, my home is in Chicago. China makes money, America spends it. I am a people's artist. I have no regrets entering Huaxia, my home is in California," which satirises those Communist Party figures who "oppose America for work but live in America."

Additionally, there is the recent scandal involving Xu Huping, the former director of the Nanjing Museum in China, who was implicated in the theft and sale of thousands of cultural relics and national treasures, shocking the international community. Just days before his investigation, Xu Huping had denied stealing cultural relics in front of the camera at his home, with a wall adorned with porcelain and calligraphy behind him. However, just a few days later, he was taken away by the police. Xu Huping's performance could earn him an Oscar; despite clearly being involved in theft, he maintained a calm demeanour in front of the camera, openly lying with composure!

Let's discuss something more distant.

Shen Jilan, a representative at the National People's Congress who passed away in 2020 after attending the meetings for 66 consecutive years, never cast a dissenting vote, earning her the sarcastic nickname of a "voting machine." Netizens humorously remarked, "She supported the Great Leap Forward, the People's Communes, the Cultural Revolution, the struggle against Liu Shaoqi, the struggle against Deng Xiaoping, the denial of the Cultural Revolution, the rehabilitation of Liu Shaoqi, and the rehabilitation of Deng Xiaoping," noting that her ability to be re-elected stemmed from her unwavering support.

Shen Jilan also proposed eliminating television remote controls to ensure that viewers only watch CCTV Channel 1. Additionally, she suggested abolishing the term "corrupt officials" to portray the Communist Party as a great and correct entity, instead referring to them uniformly as "people who have infiltrated the party from the masses," among other proposals.

In 2010, she publicly declared at the Two Sessions, "I strongly support the Communist Party; being a representative means listening to the party's directives, and I have never cast a dissenting vote." This statement ignited controversy, prompting the Youth League of the Shanxi Provincial Committee to post on Weibo, "You represented during the Anti-Rightist Movement, you represented during the Cultural Revolution, you represent at all times, yet you have never represented the people..." This post garnered widespread attention but was quickly deleted.

However, the other side of this "voting machine" was unveiled by former CCTV host Chai Jing.

In 2006, Chai Jing was dispatched by CCTV to cover the Two Sessions. Well-acquainted with the intricacies of how the Communist Party reports on these events, she wryly noted: the editors and directors' task is to craft well-written scripts. The representatives' task is to read the scripts prepared by the editors and directors. Her role was simply to hold the microphone. Initially, she did not wish to endure that burden, but she had no choice, as it was her assignment.

At the venue of the Two Sessions, representatives pretended to hold farmers' hands and insincerely asked, 'Are you living well?' Chai Jing initially wanted to have a few words with Shen Jilan, but she noticed that Shen Jilan looked quite displeased. Shen Jilan even remarked, 'Isn't the performance in there enough?' For the first time, Chai Jing felt the online mockery directed at her for never voting against, but Shen Jilan also felt uncomfortable witnessing the theatrics of officialdom.

Shen Jilan's situation is quite tragic; she is aware that she is performing, and she knows that others are acting as well, which leaves her feeling unsettled inside.

In reality, nearly every official in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is putting on a performance. Each official is expected to criticise the United States, but their true feelings are often revealed through their actions. Years ago, a report indicated that, according to U.S. government statistics, 74.5% of the sons of CCP officials at the ministerial level or above (including those who have retired) possess U.S. green cards or citizenship, and the percentage of grandchildren with U.S. citizenship reaches 91% or more.

A study conducted by Chinese civil society found that 91% of Central Committee members of the CCP have family members who have immigrated abroad, with some even acquiring foreign nationality; among the members of the CCP's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, 88% have relatives or children who have emigrated overseas.

Additionally, Hong Kong media have reported that the United States is the preferred destination for corrupt officials fleeing the CCP, with over 7,000 corrupt officials reportedly hiding in the U.S.

Those Communist Party officials who typically occupy high positions and hypocritically criticise the education of the general public reveal a truly deplorable side of themselves. Within the Communist Party system, individuals must often become 'double-faced' or even 'three-faced' or 'four-faced' in order to be considered for reappointment and promotions. They are required to portray themselves as loyal adherents to the Party, yet some still grapple with a flicker of conscience that occasionally surfaces. As a result, they must possess exceptional acting skills, leading to a rather tragic existence.

(Originally published by the People News)
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