Peruvian President Jose Jeri is currently embroiled in a political storm after a video surfaced showing him secretly entering a Chinese restaurant and meeting with a Chinese businessman. These meetings were not recorded on the president’s official schedule.
Accusations of improper meetings and potential corruption have led to calls for Jeri’s impeachment from various factions in the parliament. Several parties have proposed motions of moral incapacity, but it remains uncertain whether the 66-vote threshold for approval will be reached.
Jeri attended a congressional hearing this week to “clarify” his multiple private meetings with a Chinese businessman.
Attorney General Tomas Galvez has announced a preliminary investigation into the matter.
By law, the current president is entitled to criminal immunity. Jeri took office in October 2025 after former President Dina Boluarte was impeached.
Jeri’s party, “We Are Peru,” is currently divided internally, with their presidential candidate George Forsyth publicly calling for his resignation.
Jeri’s meetings with Chinese businessman Zhihua Yang were not included in the president’s schedule, sparking criticism of his lack of transparency and potential corruption. In Peru, meetings between the president and others are traditionally recorded on the official agenda.
Local media reported that Jeri met with Yang on December 26, 2025, and January 6, 2026. Yang has been doing business in Peru for over twenty years, involved in various fields such as security and construction, and holds commercial stores and franchises for energy projects.
A recent video broadcast on local television showed the president arriving at a Chinese restaurant in the San Borja district of Lima on December 26, 2025. Jeri covered his face and seemed reluctant to be seen, accompanied by Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio.
The restaurant is owned by Zhihua Yang.
After public outrage following the exposure of the video, Jeri publicly apologized on Sunday, January 18, for his previous meeting at the Chinese restaurant. He stated that the purpose of the visit was to coordinate another annual commemorative event for Peru-China friendly relations and denied receiving any “improper” meeting requests.
Jeri admitted his mistake, apologized publicly, and acknowledged the doubts and questioning his secretive meeting with the businessman had raised.
A few hours after Jeri’s apology, another video of his second meeting with Zhihua Yang was made public.
The latest video shows the president appearing again on January 6, 2026, at a wholesale store owned by the same businessman. Earlier that day, the store had been ordered to close by Lima authorities for selling unauthorized products.
Both meetings between the president and Yang were not recorded in official records.
Local media collectively reported that Yang was interested in a government contract to install surveillance cameras on thousands of public buses. The contract is valued at around $30 million, with a total of 8,000 cameras.
Reports indicate that the presidential palace had pushed for the project’s internal approval, and government officials later admitted discussions with Chinese business figures but denied any pressure or irregularities.
Yang’s lawyer told RPP radio on Monday evening that the two meetings with the president were “friendly encounters” and that Jeri did not comply with certain procedures.
According to local media, another Chinese businessman had entered the presidential palace.
Local media reported that another Chinese businessman, Ji Wu Xiaodong, had entered the presidential palace multiple times between December last year and January this year and was under soft detention for alleged illegal logging.
The president stated that he was unaware of Ji Wu Xiaodong’s identity and added that the businessman “does not speak much Spanish.” He believed these meetings did not involve any violations.
Jeri spoke at the congressional hearing this week, denying any misconduct and stating that he would not resign. He characterized the leaked videos as a “political conspiracy” attempting to destabilize the government before the elections. Prime Minister Ernesto Alvarez acknowledged the president’s mistakes but denied any illegality and refused to resign.
Peru is set to hold its general election on April 12, and the outcomes of the parliamentary and judicial investigations are expected to have a significant impact on the election and political developments.
Peru has been in a prolonged political crisis for years, with seven presidents being replaced since 2018 due to resignations or dismissals.