At the CCP’s state banquet honoring President Trump, standing next to Elon Musk was Cheng Cheng, a member of the Chinese Communist Party, a battalion commander in the PLA Honor Guard Ceremonial Brigade with the rank of major, a deputy to the 13th and 14th National People’s Congresses, and one of China’s first female honor guards.
She previously served as commander of the female honor guard unit, received a First-Class Merit citation, and was awarded the title of “National March 8 Red Banner Holder.”
Born in December 1986 in Weifang, Shandong Province, Cheng enlisted in the military at the age of 18 in 2004. She originally served as a communications soldier in the Second Artillery Corps before later entering the Bethune Military Medical College (now the Bethune Medical NCO School) to study nursing.
In 2008, she was selected to lead the female formation in the military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
However, after growing 1.8 centimeters taller during training, she was regretfully reassigned as a backup member.
In 2012, she was selected into the PLA Honor Guard Ceremonial Brigade. Beginning in 2014, she served as commander of the female unit, leading the formation during its first appearance in a state diplomatic ceremony on May 12, 2014, and later in the 2015 military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of victory in World War II, where she served at the front of a mixed formation.
Cheng participated in building and standardizing China’s female honor guard system. She helped draft manuals and operational standards, including the Female Honour Guard Mission Procedures Manual and the Female Honour Guard Mission Standards. She has led her unit in more than 200 state-level ceremonial missions, including welcoming foreign heads of state, the 70th National Day military parade, and the centennial celebration of the Chinese Communist Party.
She has been elected to the National People’s Congress for two consecutive terms since 2018, focusing on military personnel training and veterans’ resettlement. Her unit has also received multiple honors, including the title of “National March 8 Red Banner Collective.”
As of 2026, Cheng remains a battalion commander in the PLA Honor Guard Ceremonial Brigade and continues to serve on the front lines of training and major national ceremonial missions. She is regarded as the first female honor guard commander in PLA history and a key figure in institutionalizing China’s female honor guard system.
The PLA Honor Guard Ceremonial Brigade, under the Beijing Garrison Command, is responsible for China’s highest-level state ceremonial duties. As its first female unit commander and current battalion-level officer, Cheng Cheng represents a milestone breakthrough for women in the Chinese military honor guard system.
Elon Musk was targeted
Elon Musk’s high-profile visits to China, particularly accompanying U.S. delegations like Donald Trump’s state visit, are heavily targeted for two primary reasons: his immense popularity as a tech visionary in China and his critical position at the intersection of business, diplomacy, and global superpower tensions.
Musk serves as a vital bridge between U.S. technology and the Chinese manufacturing ecosystem. Because Tesla is deeply reliant on China for its supply chains and a massive share of its market revenue, the Chinese government views Musk’s close ties to the U.S. administration as a valuable strategic bargaining chip to help stabilize U.S.-China relations and manage trade disputes.
In China, Musk is widely seen as an icon and often affectionately referred to as “Brother Ma” by his millions of followers. During public gatherings, his high profile makes him a natural target for selfie-seeking Chinese tech CEOs and diplomats, which frequently leads to viral internet moments across local social media platforms like Weibo.
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