How Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump opened a parallel track in US-China diplomacy

First Ladies Peng Liyuan and Melania Trump played a significant role in US-China exchanges this week during a summit in Washington. Their interactions, which were more personal and casual, helped to create a parallel path of soft power diplomacy that complemented the official talks focused on trade tensions and strategic issues.

Sun Chenghao, a US-China relations expert, noted that the direct interaction between the two first ladies presented "a more natural and personable side of bilateral relations" and conveyed that both sides were open to understanding each other.

At Joint Base Andrews, Peng and Melania exchanged greetings without an interpreter as they walked on the red carpet together. Later, Peng responded to the playing of the US and Chinese national anthems with a gesture that was interpreted online as her mouthing the word "wonderful," sparking discussion about her English abilities.

Peng, a celebrated soprano and military singer, has been accompanying President Xi on overseas trips since 2013 and has used music, education, and cultural activities as part of her public role. Her fluency in English was prominently displayed during the visit to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, where the first ladies watched a youth choir perform Chinese folk songs.

Peng actively participated by singing along to "Jasmine Flower" and clapping "bravo" at the end of the performance.

The setting of this event, in a cultural setting rather than a formal summit, allowed the two countries to connect through shared cultural experiences. Sun Chenghao emphasized that cultural and people-to-people exchanges could bridge the gap between the two nations in a way that formal diplomacy often cannot. These interactions, he said, help to lower psychological barriers and promote broader social support for formal diplomacy by highlighting areas of resonance between the two societies.

The key role of the first ladies was evident throughout their schedule, with Melania leading preparations for the state dinner and both women seated together at the center of a tea gathering at the White House's Red Room on the final day of Xi's visit. While Sun suggests that these interactions may generate attention and curiosity at the moment, the sustainability of understanding depends on continued exchanges and the broader policy environment between both countries.