Linked to Anti-Xi Plot, Tang Can Returns! Peng Liyuan Humiliated? Power Struggles Escalate!

Tankan has suddenly reappeared on the Spring Festival Gala stage, and not just in a low-key comeback, but elevated to a central role. For someone once labeled as having been kept by a senior military figure, rumored to be entangled in the Bojo Coop scandal, reportedly given a secret sentence, and even said to have used an alias while in prison, a return to a platform so closely associated with CCTV is clearly no coincidence. Even more striking is the timing. At the start of 2026, official circles have been shaken. Within just 40 days, 25 officials have fallen, and the power struggle between the two centrals has become increasingly visible. Against this backdrop, Tankan's reappearance may well be a signal, suggesting that someone is pushing back against she and his wife, reminding observers that the broader political landscape is far from settled. So who, ultimately, is orchestrating this comeback? And what message are they trying to send? Let's break it down in today's program. Tankan's comeback. What signal is it sending? Recently, news that Tankan, the folk singer once dubbed a military mistress, and rumored to have been entangled in the Bo Xilai-Zhou Yongkang coup scandal years ago, has resurfaced and taken part in a Spring Festival Gala program, has spread rapidly online, gaining momentum by the day. China Daily reported that the ninth edition of the highly anticipated Spring Festival Gala program, Grand Reunion from All Corners of the Land, completed filming at Beijing's Xinguang Film and Television Park. The recording was described as star-studded, with Tankan, Liu Zixuan, and many other well-known performers appearing on stage. The show is set to leverage the media advantages of previous editions, and is scheduled to air during the 2026 Lunar New Year, across three platforms, CCTV's digital channel, Asia Television, and Xinhua Weixi's online platform, reaching audiences both in China and abroad. What stands out even more is that Tankan was invited on stage to perform three songs solo in succession, treatment that almost amounts to being positioned as one of the show's pillars. So what is unusual about this news? As I mentioned in a previous video about Tankan, her label as a military mistress stemmed from allegations that she maintained extremely close relationships with senior military officials, such as Xu Kaihou. There were even rumors that behind her stood a lineup of generals long enough to form at least a platoon. But the controversy went beyond romantic scandal. Various sources claim that Tankan may have been drawn into the so-called Bozhou coup group. She was rumored not only to have personal ties to Bo Xilai, Zhou Yongkan, Xu Kaihou, and Li Dongsheng, then Minister of Public Security, but even to have acted as a kind of liaison in the alleged coup plot. If true, this would make the matter far more complex than a simple story of money and sex, or power and sex. Later, Tankan was reportedly given a secret seven-year prison sentence and incarcerated at the Hubei Shanning Women's Prison. It was not until June 2016 that Tencent published an investigative feature titled On the Missing Female Singer, Five Years Without a Trace. Although the article did not explicitly name her, the context made it clear it referred to Tankan. According to that report, after Tankan disappeared from public view, journalists were unable to obtain any official information from judicial authorities, government departments, or state media regarding her alleged involvement in a case, prosecution, or trial. A source said to have inside knowledge near Shanning Women's Prison claimed that Tankan was indeed serving time there, but under the alias Zhou Yan. Ordinary people, the source said, would not have been able to find that name in the prison's inmate registry. Under this alias, she was reportedly listed as having committed an economic crime. Those familiar with the matter further claimed that Tankan behaved well in prison and received sentence reductions, leading to her release around New Year's Day 2016. Where she went afterward remains unclear. While incarcerated, she reportedly performed miscellaneous tasks and even coached the prison's internal arts performance group. Overall, however, information about her remained extremely scarce, effectively treated as classified, and she rarely appeared in public. It was not until 2018 that photos began circulating on mainland social media showing Tankan in a red dress visiting her former teacher and posing with relatives and friends. She appeared noticeably thinner and more worn. Only then did the public confirm that she had indeed been released. The case at the time clearly could not have been a simple economic crime. Otherwise, there would have been no need to shroud the prosecution, trial details, and internal proceedings in secrecy, or to use an alias. There have also long been rumors that Peng Liwan played a role in Tankan's downfall. Tankan and Peng Liwan reportedly studied under the same teacher, making them fellow disciples, effectively senior and junior sisters, in the folk music world, and both were major figures in that field. It was said that the two had long competed, both openly and behind the scenes, for the title of China's top folk singer. In addition, Tankan's alleged close ties to the Bozhou faction added a further layer of sensitivity. And who was the alleged target of the Bozhou coup? Xi Jinping, Peng Liwan's husband. Hence the speculation that Peng was settling both a public and a personal score by pushing Tankan into prison. Of course, none of these rumors have ever been conclusively proven or definitively disproven. But one thing is certain, Tankan's political sensitivity, especially in connection with Xi Jinping and Peng Liwan, has always been extremely high. And between her and Peng Liwan, there has long appeared to be a kind of seesaw dynamic. The higher Peng rises, the lower Tang is pressed down. So, in that context, what does it mean for Tankan to appear in this year's Spring Festival Gala program? The show may not be top tier, but it is still part of the CCTV system. For someone widely believed to have been caught up in a major political case targeting Xi Jinping, burdened with a scandalous personal history, and reportedly having served time in prison, is it really appropriate for her to appear on the party's central media platform? What's more, she wasn't brought back quietly. She was pushed forward in a highly conspicuous way, almost like a featured headliner. Promotional posters prominently used her image, placing her front and center among a large ensemble cast. Commentator Tang Jingyuan noted that a friend who once worked at CCTV was also surprised by Tankan's participation, especially at such a sensitive moment, when Jiang Yuxia and Liu Zhenli have reportedly run into trouble and internal party divisions have become increasingly open. In other words, if Tankan's comeback did not involve some special backing and a special reason, no director would dare invite such a controversial figure onto the stage. The political risk alone would be enormous, practically inviting trouble. Overseas commentator John Fenn also wrote on the platform X that Tankan was once seen as Peng Liyuan's old rival. Her ability to return openly to a Spring Festival gala stage in 2026, he suggested, may signal shifts in influence within both the military and the cultural sphere. He even stated bluntly, someone deliberately pulled out this old ticket to publicly slap someone in the face. According to staff at the recording site, Tankan kept an unusually low profile this time. She did not even drive herself, but arrived in a BYD ride-hailing car. She had no assistant accompanying her and came alone. Even the three outfits she wore for her performances were carried in by her personally. Some interpret this as her intentionally keeping a low profile, aware of her controversial past. Others say it looked somewhat bleak, declined to the point of not even having an assistant. But according to Tang Jingyuan, this detail proves only one thing. She was summoned directly with a phone call. In other words, her appearance was deliberately arranged. It was not that she had powerful backstage connections and maneuvered her way in through personal ties. If that were the case, she would have arrived with far more visible pomp and presence. The simplicity of her appearance instead suggests she was placed there, and that her placement was meant as a counterweight to Xi Jinping and his wife. As mentioned earlier, politically, Tankan was once aligned with forces seen as Xi's rivals. Artistically and professionally, she was long considered a rival to Peng Liwan. So allowing the Xi couple to see an old adversary return so prominently sends a very clear signal Xi Jinping has not yet fully consolidated or settled the broader bounds of power. 25 officials purged in the first 40 days of the year. According to Secret China, the Chinese Communist Party's so-called anti-corruption campaign has unleashed what many describe as a storm at the start of 2026. From January 1st to February 9, a span of just 40 days, at least 25 provincial and ministerial-level officials have reportedly fallen from power. Among them, in addition to Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli at the vice-national level, there were 18 officials at the vice-ministerial level and at least five full-ministerial-level officials. In other words, compared with the peak years of anti-corruption in the past, when Xi Jinping would typically see about five or six full-ministerial-level officials fall in an entire year, This time, a single month has effectively matched a previous year's total. That can only suggest that the current political climate has entered a phase of rapid-fire remove-and-replace, moving forward with overwhelming speed. This wave is widely seen as tied to the upcoming two sessions in March. The apparent goal is to clear the cage and change the bird. As one side removes officials, the resulting vacancies allow the other side to swiftly install its own people. The key point is this. In a context where the party is widely believed to be divided into two centers, locked in intense internal struggle, what is labeled as anti-corruption is, at its core, The real issue is not whether a fallen official was corrupt, but which faction he belonged to. If you stand with the right faction and have powerful protection, even serious corruption might not bring you down. But if you align with the wrong side and your backing can no longer shield you, even accepting a small gift or uttering a few private complaints could be enough to trigger an investigation. So the question becomes, Is Xi Jinping himself lashing out wildly, even cutting down members of his own camp? Or are his rivals continuing to target the so-called Xi family army? Of course, among the 25 officials investigated over the past month, not all could belong to Xi's camp. Other factions are represented as well. But it is possible that Xi's allies form the main body of those being targeted. Commentator Tang Jingyuan characterizes the situation as an all-out brawl. You take down my people, I take down yours. Whoever strikes faster and harder gains the advantage. With the two sessions approaching next month, all sides are scrambling to seize key positions before the political reshuffle solidifies. Xi on edge, guards watching like predators? Let's start with a photo released by Xinhua from the afternoon of February 6. Xi Jinping, accompanied by Zhang Shengmin, essentially the full lineup of the Central Military Commission, appeared outside a theater. Xinhua images are heavily vetted, so it's usually hard to read much into them. But even this single photo reveals something striking. In the distance stands a young soldier, positioned at the far end of the line where Xi is shaking hands. His body leans slightly forward, eyes locked on every movement. According to the channel Zhongguo Neimu, this man appears whenever Xi attends public events, sometimes in military uniform, sometimes in plain clothes. He is clearly part of Xi's close security detail. The people Xi is greeting are senior military figures and veteran cadres. Yet even with such high-ranking elders, the security presence appears tense. That alone suggests a deep level of caution, if not anxiety, toward the military. In another shot, as Xi enters the hall and begins greeting the retired officials, few around him appear relaxed or smiling. The guard stands right at the head of the line between Xi and the veterans, positioned to respond instantly to any unexpected incident, essentially guarding against the very men Xi is shaking hands with. The placement itself signals a profound lack of trust. While Xi performs the ritual handshake, the guard's face remains expressionless, eyes fixed on the hands about to meet. He stands just a step away. Even as the handshake occurs, his expression never changes. Observers note something on the index finger of his left hand, possibly a device of some kind. As Xi moves down the line, the guard's gaze continues tracking the veterans, neck craned slightly forward, without even attempting to conceal his vigilance. When the camera angle shifts, another young soldier appears at the opposite end of the line. It's almost like two tigers guarding the gate, flanking both ends and watching the elderly officials closely. In the background, yet another soldier stands without applauding, monitoring every move. In a later moment, as Xi shakes hands with an elderly woman, a different bodyguard wearing an earpiece stares intensely, posture taut. His body language, especially his left arm, suggests he is ready to lunge at any second. Why such visible tension? Is it simply because of recent actions involving Jiang Yuxia and Liu Zhenli? Or are there deeper internal issues, tightly sealed from the public, that have left Xi and his security team on edge? As previously mentioned, former system insider Du Wen claimed that a certain military commander harbored deep resentment toward Xi, allegedly saying, If Xi Jinping comes to inspect our unit, I will personally take action against him. Whether true or not, the possibility of such hostility may weigh heavily. These details point to one thing. The military may not be as unified behind Xi as official rhetoric suggests, and support for figures like Jiang Yuxia could remain significant. What do you think about Tonkin's reappearance and these latest images? Feel free to share your thoughts below. Thank you for watching.