China’s first lady Peng Liyuan attracted significant attention online following her informal English-language exchanges with U.S. first lady Melania Trump during a recent visit to Washington, D.C. The interactions took place without the use of interpreters, drawing discussion on both Peng’s English proficiency and the wider role of the language in China’s education system.

Peng and Melania engaged in a brief conversation as they walked along the red carpet at Joint Base Andrews after arriving with their husbands, President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. While the two couples initially communicated through interpreters, the two first ladies appeared to speak directly afterward, smiling and exchanging remarks before the official welcoming ceremony. According to a professional lip reader cited by media, Peng appeared to ask about Barron Trump, Melania’s youngest son, accompanied by a gesture referencing his height. Later, after their national anthems were played, the two women continued another brief exchange lasting nearly a minute without interpretation.

A White House spokesperson noted that following the state arrival ceremony, the first ladies were scheduled to visit the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art and later attend a state dinner with their spouses.

Peng, a renowned soprano with the People’s Liberation Army and a prominent public figure in China, has accompanied Xi on many overseas visits since he took office in 2013. Unlike previous Chinese first ladies, she has maintained a relatively visible profile domestically and abroad, often referred to affectionately by Chinese internet users as “Mama Peng.” Her English language skills have been publicly demonstrated before, notably when she delivered an English speech on girls’ education and gender equality at a 2015 United Nations event in New York. Videos of that speech resurfaced on social media following her recent conversation with Melania, with commentators highlighting her apparent fluency and politeness in the exchanges.

The incident has reignited debate within China over the place of English in the national education system. This month, Tang Jiafeng, a popular mathematics teacher with a large online following, advocated removing English from the list of core subjects in schools, arguing that Chinese students are pressured to learn English before fully mastering their native language. In contrast, former Global Times editor-in-chief Hu Xijin emphasized the importance of foreign language skills in an increasingly globalized world, suggesting that English proficiency broadens opportunities for international engagement.

While English continues to be a major subject alongside Chinese and mathematics in Chinese schools, education policymakers have in recent years considered adjustments to its prominence in certain regions. The ongoing discussion reflects balancing national priorities with global communication needs.