【Epoch Times Report on May 11, 2024】Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan’s visit to France has come to an end, but the numerous awkward moments that occurred during the visit have become a topic of discussion for many. These embarrassing incidents, however, are not covered in the Chinese communist media.
On the morning of May 6, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron held a welcoming ceremony at the Elysee Palace to greet Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan. Peng Liyuan was dressed in a white dress on that day. In the afternoon, she was also seen wearing a similar outfit for other events.
The attire of the first lady during overseas visits is always a focus of attention. Peng Liyuan’s clothing choices have sparked various discussions. Some say her dress resembles a Japanese kimono mixed with a Western robe, while others feel that the all-white outfit resembles traditional Chinese mourning clothes.
Some netizens commented, “It seems her styling team incorporated too many elements from Eastern strong countries, trying too hard and turning a formal dress into a bathrobe.”
Another netizen remarked, “Peng Liyuan wearing Chinese mourning clothes, Japanese kimono, or a home bathrobe as international diplomatic attire is disrespectful.”
China affairs expert Chen Pokong stated on May 8 in his self-media program “Chen Pokong Talks about the World” that Peng Liyuan’s outfit was custom-made for her and is neither classical Chinese attire nor an ethnic minority costume. “Peng Liyuan’s clothing style is neither modern nor ancient, and it has nothing to do with China,” he added.
American political commentator Wu Jianmin also believes that the traditional Chinese white suit is often associated with mourning attire, questioning why the protocol officials at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs arranged it this way.
“Peng Liyuan is in the spotlight now. By appearing in such a unique outfit during this high-profile visit to France, she likely sought to draw more attention and trigger international discourse,” Wu Jianmin remarked.
Prior to Peng Liyuan’s visit to France, there were numerous speculations in China, including rumors that she would become a member of the Central Committee, Political Bureau, or even that she had engaged with the military and become a dedicated member of the Central Military Commission.
In addition to Peng Liyuan’s white attire, Xi Jinping’s use of a black mug also drew attention.
From publicly available footage, it can be seen that during the two meetings between Macron and Xi Jinping, a black mug was placed in front of Xi, which stood out prominently, while a clear glass was placed in front of others.
This black mug sparked various speculations. Some suggested it was for security reasons, others claimed Xi had a severe illness and required a special medicine, and some even theorized that it was to prevent leaving personal biological information behind.
Chen Pokong commented, “Xi Jinping’s black mug could be considered the worst color choice. Some people humorously said it represents him being ‘black’ all his life. Coupled with comments on Peng Liyuan’s attire resembling mourning clothes, combining black and white signifies funeral colors, which is extremely inauspicious.”
Chen Pokong believed it was possible that the black mug choice was a result of an internally advanced measure, but it could also be a creative attempt in designing Peng Liyuan’s outfit, inadvertently resulting in an awkward outcome.
After Xi Jinping alighted from the car at the Elysee Palace, he walked alone in front of the honor guard for nearly 40 seconds before Macron approached to shake his hand. Footage clearly showed Xi walking unsteadily, with commentator Tang Jingyuan suggesting in his self-media program “Insightful Comments” that Xi’s left foot appeared to be limping, resembling symptoms of a sequelae of a cerebral infarction.
Some questioned whether this was intentionally aimed at embarrassing Xi, as during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s visit to France, the official car drove directly to the entrance of the Elysee Palace, where Kishida alighted and stood waiting as Macron approached to shake hands.
On the 6th, before the trilateral meeting between Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Xi Jinping at the Elysee Palace courtyard, when Macron and Xi shook hands, Macron attempted to embrace Xi, but Xi did not respond. As they shook hands, Macron appeared to press on Xi’s arm, and Xi followed him into the Elysee Palace.
During the trilateral talks, Xi almost looked down to the table where the prepared draft was placed each time he spoke. While Macron and von der Leyen also had notebooks ready, they did not refer to them during their speeches.
Some netizens criticized, “Is this even a conversation? Are they reading off guidebooks during diplomatic meetings? Embarrassing themselves time after time on the international stage, yet still conceited!”
On the 7th, Macron and Xi arrived in the French southern region of the Pyrenees and held a “small-scale luncheon,” during which they observed a folk dance performance.
However, the weather did not cooperate, as snow began to fall. The leading Macron held a large umbrella to shield his wife, leaving Xi to hold his own umbrella without extending the cover to Peng Liyuan, exposing her to the elements.
Typically, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a Protocol Department specifically dedicated to training in international etiquette. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs and disappeared figure, Qin Gang, previously served as the director of the Protocol Department, responsible for arranging Xi’s diplomatic activities. It should be noted that Xi would be aware of the essential etiquette for such important occasions.
Some netizens felt, “Xi did not consider his wife’s feelings, only focusing on himself. From a minor perspective, it lacks gentlemanly demeanor, while on a larger scale, it highlights a self-centered attitude.”
Xi’s visit to France as the Chinese Communist Party leader is considered the highest-level state visit, where France usually welcomes foreign heads of state with the utmost diplomatic ceremonies and protocols. However, on this occasion, France did not provide Xi with a 21-gun salute or the high-profile welcome with a red carpet.
Video footage showed that upon Xi’s special aircraft’s arrival at the Paris airport on the 5th, the laid-out red carpet did not align with the gangway but was placed in a misaligned position. Moreover, during the official welcome ceremony at the Les Invalides when Xi conducted a formal inspection of the military honor guard, there was no red carpet present.
Renowned blogger Jiang Feng commented, “For dictatorial rulers from the most face-conscious totalitarian regimes, this lack of face in terms of the welcoming protocol is the ultimate diplomatic snub.”