Did Chinese General Pose As Server To Spy On Elon Musk At Trump’s Beijing Banquet?

Last Updated:May 22, 2026, 15:08 IST

An independent blogger has made the claims, even though media outlets could not independently verify it, and the Chinese government has issued no official response

Did China spy on the American delegation during US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing by using disguised personnel to monitor foreign dignitaries and tech executives?

At least that’s what an independent blogger has claimed, even though media outlets could not independently verify the identity claims, and the Chinese government has issued no official response.

The claims

In a series of social media posts, Jennifer Zeng, an independent blogger, alleged that a server standing directly behind billionaire Elon Musk at a Beijing state banquet is a highly decorated active-duty Chinese military officer, Major Cheng Cheng.

Zeng alleged that Cheng is an elite battalion commander who reportedly authored operational manuals for China’s military ceremonies. In her social media posts, Zeng speculated that the waitress was carrying “a gun or something under her red dress".

This isn’t the first time Zeng has accused Beijing of espionage. In 2023, she suggested the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) played a role in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. According to her, China’s “purpose was to frame India, creating discord between India and the West."

Who is Major Cheng Cheng? What Jennifer Zeng said

The post read: “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," said the post.

“Cheng participated in building and standardizing China’s female honor guard system. She helped draft manuals and operational standards, including the Female Honor Guard Mission Procedures Manual and the Female Honor 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 for two consecutive terms as a deputy to the National People’s Congress since 2018, focusing on issues such as 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," said Zeng’s post, citing sources.

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.

How the Internet responded

The claim exploded across social media networks, with viewers closely dissecting the banquet footage.

Internet users pointed out the serious expressions, asymmetric clothing bulges, and highly alert body language of multiple waitstaff members standing behind U.S. dignitaries like Musk and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.

Many users speculated that the servers were deeply embedded intelligence operatives or trained security personnel carrying wireless surveillance equipment.

What experts say

However, security experts noted in reports that while these specific banquet claims lack official proof, the intense scrutiny aligns with well-documented historical patterns.

Western intelligence agencies frequently warn that foreign nations routinely use embedded state actors, surveillance, and deep-cover personnel around high-value tech leaders and political dignitaries during diplomatic events.

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