Recently, in early May, a photo emerged showing Peng Liyuan dressed in military uniform inspecting a military academy, with a caption indicating her role as a “Full-time Member of the Staff Appraisal Committee of the Central Military Commission,” participating in the selection of senior military officers within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military hierarchy. A former CCP military officer has raised suspicions that Peng Liyuan has actually been in charge of military personnel appointments and dismissals for the past 8 years, effectively turning the Central Military Commission into a “family business” controlled by Xi Jinping and his wife.
Retired colonel and former deputy chief of staff of the Chinese Navy, Yao Cheng, revealed on a live broadcast on May 30th that during Xi Jinping’s military reforms, Peng Liyuan was transferred to the National Defense University, where she was appointed as a professor and supervisor of doctoral students at the Military Cultural College of the National Defense University in April 2017. This position was merely nominal, as she concurrently began serving as a full-time member of the Staff Appraisal Committee of the Central Military Commission. Upon verification, it was found that the CCP Central Military Commission does not have a Staff Appraisal Committee; only Peng Liyuan serves as a full-time appraiser, though there might be an office for such functions.
Yao Cheng indicated that when he inquired with acquaintances in Beijing, none of them were aware of this institution or Peng Liyuan’s role. The exposure of this issue was triggered by the circulation of a photograph showing Peng Liyuan inspecting the Naval Engineering University, although the exact date of the picture is unclear. Interestingly, this particular photo had been displayed prominently on a wall at the Naval Engineering University but had gone largely unnoticed.
Yao Cheng analyzed that from July 2017 onwards, particularly since the military reforms of 2016, Peng Liyuan has effectively influenced the promotions and appointments of military leaders for 8 years, a fact that was previously unknown to many. This revelation has generated significant reactions within the military circles, with many perceiving the CCP Central Military Commission as being essentially run as a family business, where promotions are orchestrated by Peng Liyuan rather than Xi Jinping.
This situation has raised concerns and speculation among observers and analysts. Some believe that the timing of the release of the photo was a deliberate move, perhaps orchestrated by Xi Jinping as a preemptive measure before the upcoming Third Plenum to inform the military personnel of Peng Liyuan’s role. However, Yao Cheng leans towards the view that the photo leak was intentional, likely driven by anti-Xi factions within the party discontent with Xi’s potential plans for significant reshuffling of military leadership at the upcoming Third Plenum.
Political commentator Zhou Xiaohui highlighted the existence of the Military Staff Appraisal Committee of the CCP Central Military Commission, established after Xi Jinping’s military reforms in 2016, although the specific date of its formation remains uncertain. This committee has been referenced in various official CCP media reports on military reforms over the past few years.
With speculations surrounding the possibility of Peng Liyuan succeeding a more prominent role within the CCP leadership, independent commentator Cai Shenkun has pointed out that while immediate signs of Peng Liyuan ascending to an important position within the Political Bureau are not evident, her Shandong background may have already granted her significant sway in personnel matters, as officials from Shandong have been appointed to key positions in the past. With the recent appointment of Dong Jun, a Shandong native, as the new Minister of National Defense after Li Shangfu’s dismissal, questions arise about the nexus of power and influence within the party.
Analysts like Du Zheng have contemplated the deeper implications of these internal power dynamics, speculating that amidst escalating crises both domestically and internationally, Xi Jinping may be laying the groundwork for a potential successor to safeguard his legacy post-retirement or in the event of his demise. The growing visibility of Peng Liyuan’s activities and her interactions with military personnel seem to signal a subtle positioning for a potential transfer of power in the future, with the main challenge likely to come from within the ranks of Xi’s loyalists. The release of the photos of Peng’s military inspections appears to serve as a veiled warning of her deep-rooted influence over military appointments and potential future political maneuvers.