On May 26, 2023, Xi Jinping (right) and Peng Liyuan prepared to welcome the visiting president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Online screenshot)
[People News] According to reports from state media of the Chinese Communist Party, on February 16, Xi Jinping responded to a letter from friends in Iowa, USA, and sent back a New Year greeting card, extending festive wishes. The content, filled with clichés, is not particularly noteworthy; however, the last paragraph of the news, which mentions the reason for Xi's reply, is worth discussing.
The report states that previously, friends from Iowa, represented by Beilong, wrote to Xi, conveying New Year wishes to him and Professor Peng Liyuan. Additionally, Beilong, Lanti, Devocek, Kimberly, and others, along with teachers and students from the state who participated in the '5 Years, 50,000' initiative to visit China, also sent greeting cards to the couple.
The '5 Years, 50,000' initiative was announced by Xi Jinping during a speech in San Francisco in November 2023, stating that the Chinese side would invite 50,000 American youth to China for exchange and study over the next five years, with all expenses covered by the Chinese Communist government. While many people in mainland China still struggle with basic needs such as food, clothing, education, and healthcare, Xi's generosity can only provoke anger among the Chinese populace. Does the Chinese Communist Party really believe it can mask its numerous human rights violations by attempting to influence American youth?
Clearly, Xi has been responding to friends in Iowa every year in recent years, aiming to convey to the Chinese people that he still holds influence in the United States. However, those who are aware of the situation understand that this reflects the predicament of Xi and the Communist Party; unable to engage with mainstream American society, they can only use this to save face.
Interestingly, this year, the greeting cards from American friends wished well for both Xi and Peng Liyuan, but the reply came only from Xi, with Peng Liyuan absent, which is quite unusual compared to previous years.
On January 2, 2025, state media published a news article titled "Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan return New Year greeting cards to representatives of middle school teachers and students in Washington State, USA." This gesture was in response to greeting cards sent by representatives of teachers and students from the China-U.S. Youth Exchange Association, Lincoln High School, and Stadium High School in Washington State, who had previously participated in the "5 Years, 50,000" initiative visit to China.
Then, on January 4, state media released another article titled "'We feel honoured and warm' — President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan's return of New Year greeting cards has greatly encouraged American youth and friendly individuals." On February 19 of this year, a similar article titled "'Make greater contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations' — President Xi Jinping's reply has inspired American-friendly individuals and youth" was published, which also notably omitted Peng Liyuan's name.
On January 27, 2025, the official website reported "Xi Jinping returns New Year greeting cards to friends in Iowa, USA," mentioning friends from Iowa such as Beilong, Devocek, and Lanti, along with representatives of teachers, students, and parents who participated in the initiative visit to China, but did not mention Peng Liyuan.
Looking back at 2024, on February 11 of that year, state media published an article titled "Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan return New Year greeting cards to teachers and students of Lincoln High School in the USA," which was also in response to New Year greeting cards sent by the teachers and students of Lincoln High School in Washington State.
This situation is quite intriguing. Traditionally, when American friends send greeting cards to Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan, the response is issued in the names of both Xi and Peng. However, during the 2025 traditional New Year, American friends sent greeting cards solely to Xi, and the reply came only from Xi Jinping (possibly at the request of the Chinese side). This year, however, the oddity is that while the greeting card was addressed to both Xi and Peng, the response was exclusively from Xi Jinping. This is rather unusual.
One pertinent question arises: following the arrests of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, if Xi has genuinely secured support within the party and military, regaining a position of singular authority, the news should ideally reference both Xi and Peng. Yet, the reality appears to be the opposite, seemingly designed to emphasise this distinction to the outside world.
It's important to note that after reports emerged in July 2024 about Xi suffering a stroke during the Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party, which led to shifts in high-level power dynamics, Peng Liyuan's status has been gradually diminished. In addition to her reported removal from the military selection committee, her name has been increasingly downplayed in public reports. For example, during a December 1, 2025, event for World AIDS Day, the news first highlighted the promotional theme before mentioning Peng's title, her attendance, and accompanying personnel. In contrast, previous reports on similar events typically introduced Peng Liyuan's title and attendance first, followed by the year's promotional theme.
Furthermore, the officials accompanying Peng Liyuan have also seen a downgrade in their ranks. In the aforementioned event, the highest-ranking official who previously accompanied her was the Director of the Health Commission, but in 2025, this was reduced to the Deputy Director. Additionally, the coverage of Peng in news reports has been noticeably less extensive and shorter than in the past.
If we consider that after Xi Jinping dealt with Zhang and Liu over the past month, military and state media have resumed the practice of Xi's news dominating the headlines and screens, creating the impression that he wields significant power, then Peng Liyuan's status should also rise accordingly, allowing her to appear in the news alongside Xi as she did in the past. However, the latest reports tell a different story. What could be the reason behind the absence of Peng's name? The author speculates on several possible explanations:
1. Xi may be intentionally downplaying Peng; could this reflect the challenges he faces in re-establishing his 'one supreme' position amid the internal power struggles within the Communist Party? Is he being forced to compromise?
2. Xi might be bound by some internal agreement within the Communist Party that restricts Peng's visibility?
3. Certain factions within the Communist Party may be using this unusual reporting to suggest that Xi's status is not as secure as the propaganda portrays.
Regardless of the reason, the absence of Peng Liyuan's name is unusual and indicates that the internal dynamics of the Communist Party remain chaotic, with the struggle between Xi and anti-Xi forces far from resolved.
(First published by People News)△
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