China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan’s English becomes talking point during Xi’s Washington visit

Peng Liyuan’s English chat with Melania Trump steals spotlight during Xi’s US visit

China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan has become a talking point after appearing to converse in English with US First Lady Melania Trump without an interpreter during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington.

Xi and Peng were welcomed by US President Donald Trump and Melania at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday. The two couples initially communicated with the assistance of interpreters. However, as they walked behind the presidents towards the ceremonial area, Peng and Melania appeared to speak directly to each other.

The two women were seen smiling and chatting until they reached the cameras. They later exchanged a few more words after the national anthems were played, with Peng seemingly mouthing “wonderful”. The audio of their conversation was not available.

Did Peng ask about Barron Trump?

A professional lip-reader, cited by a US tabloid, claimed Peng appeared to ask Melania about Barron Trump, the US president’s youngest son. Peng was also seen raising her hand near her forehead, which the lip-reader interpreted as a possible reference to Barron’s height.

The interpretation has not been independently verified and is based entirely on lip-reading, so the exact conversation remains unclear.

Peng’s public diplomacy role

Peng’s interaction with Melania was followed by another public engagement on Thursday, when the two first ladies visited the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art.

During the visit, a youth choir performed the Chinese folk song “Jasmine Flower.” The children later thanked Peng, addressing her as “mother Peng”.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng shared a video of the event and said Peng encouraged American teenagers to continue learning Chinese language and culture and to serve as bridges of friendship between the two countries.

Her appearances formed part of the cultural and diplomatic messaging surrounding Xi’s visit, with Reuters describing Peng’s role as an example of China’s use of soft power.

From military singer to China’s First Lady

Peng, a celebrated soprano, was once particularly known for performances with the Chinese military. Since Xi became president in 2013, she has accompanied him on several international visits and taken part in education and public-health initiatives.

UNESCO appointed her a Special Envoy for the Advancement of Girls and Women’s Education in 2014. She has also been involved in campaigns promoting education and HIV/AIDS awareness.

Unlike the spouses of several previous Chinese leaders, Peng has maintained a relatively prominent public presence internationally.

Peng had spoken English long before the latest meeting

Her apparent conversation with Melania is also not the first time Peng has used English publicly. In 2015, she delivered an English-language address at a United Nations education event in New York, speaking about girls’ education, equality and access to schooling.

Clips of that speech resurfaced on social media after her meeting with Melania, with users pointing to her earlier English-language appearance and her interaction with the US First Lady.

Why Peng’s English is drawing attention in China

The renewed focus comes as debate over the role of English in China’s education system has also intensified.

Maths teacher Tang Jiafeng recently argued that English should lose its status as a core school subject, saying students, parents and schools devote disproportionate time and resources to learning it, according to the South China Morning Post.

Former Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin has taken a different view, arguing that English-language skills remain valuable for international communication.