By Augustus K. Yeung

INTRODUCTION

Global observers have noticed and are disappointed after China's high-profile congressional meeting: They said, "There is not one single distinguished female on the leadership."

However, there is no denying that professional women in China are playing a second fiddle in the politics of the day while Western women leaders come and go, suggesting that perhaps Chinese should live up to Mao Zedong's keen observation, "Women light up half the sky."

Perhaps, it's time China should pay special attention to the soft power that its female community workers, intellectuals, professionals and political leaders; all of these distinguished women have something significant to contribute to the national rejuvenation of the motherland.

If you are a keen observer, you would be impressed and inspired by Peng Liyuan, the wife of President Xi Jinping.

Peng Called on China and Indonesia to Strengthen Exchanges…

Peng Liyuan, the wife of President Xi Jinping, has returned to the diplomatic stage after a three-year absence, with poverty alleviation and environmental protection on her agenda.

As Xi engaged in a flurry of diplomacy at last week's Group of 20 summit in Bali and the Apec meeting in Bangkok, Peng – a soprano and famous folk singer – attended events held alongside those gatherings. It was her first in-person diplomatic engagement outside China since the coronavirus pandemic began – Peng was last seen abroad with Xi in November 2019 for the BRICS summit in Brazil.

At an event last Tuesday with other spouses of G20 leaders, Peng called on China and Indonesia to strengthen exchanges and cooperation to ease poverty and protect the environment. On Wednesday, she discussed public welfare and charity, and the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis and Aids, with Indonesian first lady Iriana Joko Widodo. They also watched students perform an Indonesian song in Chinese at a Confucius Institute.

In Thailand, Peng's name appeared alongside Xi's on a roadside hoarding offering them a "warm welcome", and the pair were greeted by soldiers and Thai-Chinese waving flags when they arrived for the Apec summit.

Peng visited a music college and museum with Naraporn Chan-ocha, the wife of Thailand's prime minister, on Saturday.

Analyst: Having First Lady Play This Role Helps Soften China's Image

Peng's 60th birthday was marked with Thai folk dancing and traditional Chinese music at a banquet later that day hosted by the Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha and his wife, according to videos circulating on social media.

Analysts say Peng's activities during last week's diplomatic whirl were an effort to show a friendlier side of China.

Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, noted that unlike her Western counterparts, Peng does not have the official title of "first lady".

That meant her activities and speeches on the diplomatic stage had less political significance compared to those who did have that title, he said.

Still, Wu noted that Peng was the most high-profile spouse of China's political elites. When Premier Li Keqiang visited Cambodia this month with his wife, she was only briefly mentioned in state media.

Dylan Loh an assistant professor in foreign policy at Nanyang Technology University in Singapore, said there was also an effort to avoid Peng overshadowing the work of diplomats and officials on such occasions.

"Those areas that she has intervened in – women's empowerment, Aids alleviations, poverty issues and so forth – are areas that are fairly uncontroversial," Loh said. "Having a public female persona play this role also helps soften China's image."

While Peng had not been seen abroad since COVID-19 emerged – Xi only made his first overseas trip since the pandemic in September – she did appear at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics in February.

Peng also called for more cultural exchanges between China and the United States in October 2021, when she offered congratulations on the inauguration of the Tianjin Julliard School, established in the Chinese port city by the Tianjin Conservatory of Music and New York's Juilliard School.

She made the remarks in a letter that was later the subject of a meeting by Tianjin officials. However, a post on the meeting was taken down from the government website after it prompted public discussion on the lack of clarity on Peng's role in politics. (Source: SCMP)

CONCLUSION

Peng's role in national politics should not be an issue as it is socially accepted that the wife of a country's leader automatically entitles her to the status of "first lady".

Elleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the war-time US president was a case in point. Her legacy of ability, caring and efforts for social justice and charity for the American people is still fondly remembered and cherished.

Madame Chiang Kai-shek, the Vasa-educated wife of the KMT leader, who allied with the CPC to resist the invading imperialist Japanese, was known to have helped Chiang: she was dispatched to the US Congress, delivering a speech and secured timely assistance.

Xi's wife, Peng Liyuan a professional singer in her own right has been highly received and revered by overseas Chinese who said they were proud to have her as China's first lady.

Peng's rise in leadership will certainly raise women's social status: the case of Chinese thugs beating up innocent women in Tangshan suggests that the weaker sex must not be perceived as punch bags, or toy objects to be played with and tossed out in the end.

If woman's socio-political status is raised, the rate of domestic violence against women will statistically go down.

If China's first lady can be internationally seen as playing an inspiring role, women in third world countries might be significantly inspired and liberated.

If China could lead global economy, Peng might lead women to win the region's war-of-gender equality.

The author is a freelance writer; formerly Adjunct Lecturer, taught MBA Philosophy of Management, and International Strategy, and online columnist of 3-D Corner (HKU SPACE), University of Hong Kong.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

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