Will Peng Liyuan follow in Jiang Qing’s steps?

YOU SANG-CHUL
The author is the CEO of China Lab.

“Will Peng Liyuan be the next Jiang Qing?” many Chinese people are often asking. The question is about whether Peng Liyuan, the wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, will join politics just as Mao Zedong’s last partner, Jiang Qing, did.

The question was recently triggered by Peng’s visit to Changsha, the capital of Hunan Province, on March 24. As a World Health Organization goodwill ambassador for the prevention of tuberculosis and AIDS, Peng checked the status of tuberculosis prevention in the region. Not surprisingly, she made similar moves before.

Then why the rumors? Her latest visit was different from the past. First of all, she was accompanied by high-ranking officials. Previously, she was followed by a deputy chief of the National Health Commission, but this time, she was flanked by a vice minister-level deputy governor of Hunan Province.

The second point to watch is the composition of the photo. In the past, Peng was seen in close proximity to the public though she was positioned at the center. This time, two vice minister-level officials kept a certain distance from Peng to highlight her presence. The composition of the photo is an expression of the “sole dignity” applied to pictures of President Xi. It is very bureaucratic.

The third point is the special safety measures enacted. In the past, she was seen mixing with large crowds, but this time, she only met a select few to prevent an unexpected incident. This is why many Taiwanese and U.S. media outlets speculate that Peng will become the next Jiang Qing.

Jiang Qing became a member of the Politburo in 1969. She formed the Gang of Four to lead the Cultural Revolution. It is believed that Chairman Mao thought in his later days that he could only trust his family and wished to have Jiang Qing succeed him. China experts predict that Xi — who has the kind of absolute power Mao had — will follow in his footsteps. Wang Dan, the leader of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, says that for them, it would be a rational choice to hand over power to the family.

Peng Liyuan and Jiang Qing have three things in common: they are both from Shandong Province, had a career in entertainment, and have no son. Peng’s entry into politics was mentioned at the funeral of former premier Li Keqiang on November 2, 2023. At that time, Peng offered condolences right after President Xi and before the other six Politburo Standing Committee members. Since then, it was believed that Peng would join the Politburo. According to the latest rumors, she would be the vice president.

Peng’s entry into politics is still merely the subject of speculation. But it may come true at the 21st Party Congress in 2027. As history repeats itself, we will have to keep a keen eye on it.