Donald Trump is in China to discuss with Xi Jinping for two days. Never far from the president of the People’s Republic, his wife Peng Liyuan should lighten the atmosphere. At 63 years old, the Chinese first lady, a former singing star and army general, plays an essential role at the country’s helm.
A voice for the Party. Before becoming the wife of the leader of the second world power, Peng Liyuan was the true star of the household, a diva whose fame exceeded that of her husband.
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From the “peony fairy” to the ranks of the army
Born in the province of Shandong, Peng Liyuan carved out her destiny through singing. At the age of 18, she joined the People’s Liberation Army. In between training sessions, she sang to motivate the troops, earning her the poetic nickname of “peony fairy”. Graduating from the Beijing National Conservatory, she climbed the ranks to the rank of major general.
Her career took off thanks to the annual New Year’s gala on state television, where she performed patriotic songs. Music critic Qi Youyi told the BBC in 2013 with a touch of irony: “Probably 90% of her songs praise the Communist Party, and the rest celebrates our wonderful life.”
Love at first sight and a political sacrifice
It was in the late 1980s that friends introduced her to Xi Jinping. Although they married on September 1, 1987, Peng Liyuan later admitted to the Zhanjiang Evening News that she initially found him “a bit rough and old”. Despite this first impression, the couple settled into family life. Four days after their wedding, she left alone for a three-month tour, as reported by the Journal du Dimanche.
In 2007, as her husband sought the highest positions, she chose to end her artistic career. A strategic sacrifice for someone who claimed to love “going to the market and negotiating with traders”. This human profile helped soften her husband’s image. In 2012, she was actually the second-favorite personality of the Chinese according to Ouest-France.
A charming and cause-driven diplomat
Since 2013, she has accompanied her husband on every state visit. But her role goes beyond representation. Appointed ambassador by the WHO for the fight against tuberculosis and HIV, she is also a special envoy for UNESCO.
According to the American think tank Wilson Center, “Peng became famous before her husband”. As noted by Paris Match, her rank of general greatly helped Xi Jinping “court the military”, while Courrier international points out that she humanized power by discussing their intimate life in the press.
