Chinese Premier Li Qiang stirred attention during a closed-door meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, likening China-U.S. relations to a married couple—prone to quarrels but ultimately interdependent. Analysts note that Li’s revival of this analogy coincides with unusual movements of the PLA and President Xi Jinping’s schedule in South Korea for the APEC summit, suggesting significant political signaling.
Li Qiang revives the marriage analogy
According to the Wall Street Journal, on Sept. 25, Li held a discussion with U.S. business leaders and scholars, describing the bilateral relationship as a marriage. He stated, “Even in a marriage, disagreements happen, but the bond remains close.” Attendees noted that while Chinese officials had used similar metaphors in the past, the analogy had largely fallen out of official rhetoric amid deteriorating U.S.-China relations.
The “China-U.S. marriage” metaphor originally dates back to 2013 when then Vice Premier Wang Yang, speaking off-script at the U.S.-China Economic Dialogue, likened the two countries to spouses living on the same planet—intertwined, occasionally arguing, yet needing to build understanding and mutual trust.
Li’s statement marks the first time in nearly a decade that a Chinese premier has visited the U.S. in such a high-profile capacity. Analysts suggest the timing underscores Beijing’s intention to maintain stable relations following recent communications between President Xi and the U.S. president aimed at easing tensions.
Wang Yang’s 2013 innovation and political sensitivity
Political commentator Tang Jingyuan emphasized that Li’s remark is not original; the metaphor remains Wang Yang’s creation. When Xi had just assumed power, Wang’s off-script remark elicited laughter and positive coverage from international media such as the WSJ and Reuters, with Chinese state media initially praising his wit.
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However, Wang quickly faced criticism within the party. Officials argued that the analogy implied China’s subservience, weakened its sovereignty, and tarnished its international image. Consequently, Wang abandoned the metaphor, and it became a sensitive personal label, no longer cited in official discourse.
Analysts now suggest Li’s deliberate use of the analogy signals internal political messaging, with implications extending beyond diplomacy into China’s domestic power landscape.
Li Qiang signals: ‘Wang Yang is back’
Political commentator Tang Jingyuan noted that the context makes Premier Li Qiang’s sudden revival of the “China-U.S. marriage” metaphor highly unusual. First, Li would not dare use this sensitive label without explicit authorization. Second, Xi Jinping would not authorize Li to invoke it either. Wang Yang has long been regarded as the most potent potential challenger to Xi’s authority after Li Keqiang’s death; Xi would not voluntarily lend support to Wang.
Reports also indicate that former Premier Wen Jiabao headed the decision-making and coordination body, while Wang Yang served as the executive deputy leader effectively in charge.
Tang argued that by reviving Wang Yang’s exclusive “marriage” metaphor, Li Qiang was subtly signaling to U.S. interlocutors: “The key strategist directing the overall trajectory of U.S.-China relations is Wang Yang himself, or forces backing him—not Xi Jinping. Wang Yang is back.”
Unexpected changes in Xi Jinping’s APEC trip
Li’s move appears to align with widespread online speculation about Wang Yang’s political resurgence. Meanwhile, President Xi’s schedule for the APEC summit in South Korea shows anomalies.
According to The Chosun Ilbo, Xi was originally scheduled to attend the APEC summit in Seoul from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1, including bilateral meetings with the U.S. and South Korea. Notably, the Chinese delegation’s hotel reservation at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul was unexpectedly canceled, suggesting possible last-minute changes or disruptions in the leadership’s travel arrangements.
Some analysts suggest that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may have requested, via Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui, that Xi Jinping avoid using the APEC summit as an opportunity to visit South Korea, or that China downgrade its diplomatic engagement with Seoul. This could explain the sudden cancellation of the Chinese delegation’s Shilla Hotel reservation in Seoul.
Political commentator Zhang Tianliang noted, “Unless Xi Jinping faces a serious health issue, or has lost authority, he would not cancel attendance at an international summit.”
Xi’s overseas trips in recent years typically involved reserving entire hotels and refurbishing them—changing curtains, carpets, furniture—to ensure absolute security. “Suddenly switching hotels leaves no time for proper renovations or security checks,” Zhang added.
Major developments: Large military convoy moves toward Beijing
Xi’s unusual schedule coincides with extraordinary military activity. Chinese netizens reported that on September 28, a massive convoy of military vehicles was spotted moving from Baoding toward Beijing along the highway. Reports describe over a hundred armored vehicles and camouflaged military trucks, signaling heightened security or possible preparations for a major event.
Political commentator Tang Jingyuan suggested that the convoy could belong to the 82nd Group Army stationed in Baoding. “The timing is sensitive—‘October 1’ is a politically significant date, and the Fourth Plenary Session of the CCP Central Committee was just announced for October 20. The large-scale movement of military vehicles into Beijing is intriguing,” he said.
Tang speculated that the deployment might have come under orders from Zhang Youxia. He added that next month’s Fourth Plenum is expected to differ markedly from previous sessions, requiring tight control to prevent disruptions. Recent large-scale social media account suspensions in China may also be linked, serving as a preemptive “clearing” of online discourse ahead of the plenum.
Public speculation grows over Beijing developments
Some netizens have speculated that the influx of military vehicles signals a major incident in Beijing.
Commentator Zhang Tianliang noted that whether anything has happened remains to be seen, but if Xi Jinping were incapacitated or otherwise affected, it would likely occur suddenly. “There is a so-called National Day reception on September 30. If Xi were out of action, he would not attend,” Zhang said.
By Li Jingyao
