In recent days, Chinese online networks have been ablaze with a sensational incident that has captivated the entire web: a car accident in Sydney, Australia, caused by a mysterious 23-year-old Chinese woman, and the ensuing nationwide guessing game surrounding her true identity. The event's explosive popularity has astonished many. Meanwhile, the intricate weave of power, truth and falsehood prompts a profound question: How far can Xi Jinping's path of autocracy truly extend?
The Enigmatic Crash That Ignited a Storm
On July 26, at around 3:30 AM, the quiet luxury of Sydney's Rose Bay was shattered. A Tiffany-blue Rolls-Royce, barreling down the wrong side of the road, slammed into a black Mercedes. Behind the wheel of the Mercedes was George Plassaras, a well-known chauffeur to celebrities such as radio star Kyle Sandilands. The collision left Plassaras with devastating injuries — broken hips, spine, ribs, and both femurs. He had to be cut free from the wreckage.
The Rolls-Royce driver, a 23-year-old Chinese woman named LanLan Yang, walked away almost unscathed — yet charged with DUI and misconduct.
At first, Australian media treated the story as an ordinary traffic case. Chinese-language media paid little attention. But 10 days later, the narrative exploded online — and took on an extraordinary new life.
The Spark of Speculation and Wealth's Allure
It wasn't until 10 days later, on August 7, that Chinese social media erupted with claims that shocked even the most jaded observers. Reports alleged that Yang had instantly posted a cash bail of $70 million AUD ($45 million USD), with funds appearing in the court's account in seconds. Even more astonishing, rumors claimed the court had discovered she possessed deposits of $270 billion AUD ($174.5 billion USD).
Such astronomical figures instantly drew massive scrutiny. Everyone was eager to uncover who Yang truly was and the source of her unimaginable wealth. Yet, despite exhaustive efforts, no details emerged about her background. This young woman, who owned two Rolls-Royce luxury cars each worth over a million AUD, resided in a lavish penthouse in Sydney's eastern suburbs with unbeatable harbor views. Yet she maintained no social media accounts, company registrations, property records, or LinkedIn presence. This stark contrast between her low-key online persona and her opulent lifestyle fueled a tidal wave of public discourse.
Debunkings soon surfaced — clarifying that a $70 million AUD bail was implausible, and Australian police subtly denied such claims. However, the fervor surrounding Yang's identity showed no signs of abating.
Four Wild Theories
Rapidly, four theories about her lineage emerged. The first posited that she was the great-granddaughter of Yang Shangkun, former President of China and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Under that theory, her vast wealth was said to be derived from monopolizing the China-Australia iron ore trade.
The second theory suggested she was the offspring of a political marriage between two powerful Chinese Communist Party (CCP) families. Under that theory, her great-grandfather would have been Yang Chengwu, a founding general of the People's Liberation Army who served as the first commander of the Beijing Military Region and acting Chief of the General Staff.
On the other side, her maternal great-grandfather would be Qin Jiwei. He was a Central Military Commission member who aided Xi Jinping in establishing his footing in Fujian. Thus, it was said, Xi Jinping himself feared this family to some extent.
The third claimed Yang was the daughter of Xi Jinping's brother, Xi Yuanping.
The fourth, and increasingly popular, asserted that Yang was Xi Jinping's illegitimate daughter. This theory was endorsed by Canadian writer Sheng Xue.
Echoes of Kinship and Hidden Journeys
These four narratives circulated concurrently for a time, but the fourth gained traction. Enthusiasts even juxtaposed photos of LanLan Yang with those of Xi Jinping's mother and a young Xi himself, finding uncanny resemblances.
Sheng Xue went further, revealing exclusive intelligence: On the night of March 8, 2025, Yang flew from Sydney to Hong Kong, where three vehicles awaited her at the airport. She boarded a Lexus Alphard nanny van and, without lingering in Hong Kong, proceeded directly to Shenzhen. There, she checked into the Shenzhen Yingbin Hotel, meeting her strikingly similar and doting grandmother, Qi Xin, the elderly matriarch.
LanLan Yang's Mother Hails From Guangdong.
Sheng Xue elaborated that the Shenzhen Yingbin Hotel is reserved for hosting CCP high-level leaders, key foreign dignitaries, and "extremely high-profile internal figures." Managed by the Central Guard Bureau and the Guangdong Provincial Guard System, it boasts top-tier security and confidentiality. Only core central family members reside there long-term, including Xi Jinping's mother, Qi Xin.
So far, Sheng Xue's post on X has gained over 3.3 million views.
Courtroom Drama and Geopolitical Shadows
The quest to unearth Yang's true identity grew so intense that by August 15, when her case went to court, the venue was mobbed by journalists, self-media creators, and local Sydney Chinese residents. The courtroom, seating only about 30, was full one hour before the hearing, leaving latecomers outside.
To their disappointment, Yang did not appear in person but via video link, her face visible for scarcely less than 10 seconds, with her lawyer handling the rest. Reportedly, the lawyer secured permission for her to appear remotely again at the next hearing on September 26.
This sparked immediate rumors in Chinese social media that, due to Yang's special status, China and Australia had struck a deal.
Coinciding events fueled this: On August 12, reports claimed Australian apples were approved for entry into China after 15 years. And on August 8, Australian mining giant Fortescue Metals Group secured a loan of about $2 billion USD, primarily from China's top state-owned banks, Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Thus, social media buzzed that these were quid pro quo for leniency in Yang's case.
In fact, upon checking, the Australian apple agreement was sealed back in April. And, while Fortescue's loan announcement came on August 8, the deal was likely finalized in July.
Yet, the eerie aspect lies in how, despite easy debunkings, the rumors' heat persisted. Reports on Yang were repeatedly deleted from mainland sites, only for new ones to surface.
Forces in the Shadows
Initially, when rumors about LanLan Yang first surfaced, I suspected the topic was deliberately amplified by CCP authorities to divert attention from a major public protest in Jiangyou, Sichuan, on August 4 and 5 against police injustice. In that uprising, crowds chanted for democracy's return and the Communist Party's downfall.
Over time, it became clear that the Yang Lanlan affair was being tugged in opposite directions. Some sought to dampen its coverage in Chinese media, while others fed new rumors to keep the fire alive. Behind the shifting currents of public discourse, two formidable forces appeared to be wrestling for control.
In this light, I incline to believe Yang's background is indeed extraordinary.
Xi's Family Roots in Australia
It must be noted that the Xi Jinping family has deeply entrenched roots in Australia.
Public intelligence reveals that Xi's second sister, Xi An'an, resides long-term in Melbourne with her husband Wu Long, both holding Australian citizenship. Wu has operated businesses in Melbourne for years, serving as the Xi family's vanguard in Australia.
Xi's brother, Xi Yuanping, reportedly holds permanent residency in Australia and owns substantial properties and commercial assets there. As a key family operator, he manages overseas investments. Xi An'an's son, Wu Lafei, is also in Australia.
Most topical is Xi's cousin, Qi Ming is not an obscure figure but a familiar face in Australian media. However, he is often linked to money laundering probes and casino scandals. An Australian citizen, he was investigated by police and intelligence agencies for involvement in Crown Casino, entailing massive fund flows and black money laundering.
Reports indicate Qi's casino spending isn't merely affluent but ultra-VVIP level — lavishing hundreds of thousands to millions of AUD with effortless abandon.
Wealth, Flight, and 'Fake' Investments
Casino money laundering exemplifies how CCP elites transfer funds abroad. Official CCP figures show that by the end of 2023, China's outward direct investment stock stood at about $2.96 trillion USD, with 2024 flows at $162.78 billion USD, projecting a year-end total around $3.1 trillion USD.
What does this signify? Since China's World Trade Organization entry in 2001, over 23 years earlier, cumulative foreign investment in China totals only about $2.58 trillion USD. Though smaller than China's outward investments, foreign entities are ubiquitous in China: In retail, Walmart and Carrefour rank first and third among large supermarket chains. Meanwhile, convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Costco, Lawson, and FamilyMart dot the landscape.
Conversely, abroad, one rarely spots any significant Chinese supermarkets or convenience stores.
In business services, foreign investment in China is $246.3 billion USD — merely a quarter of China's outward flows. Yet, outcomes show foreign Big Four accounting firms and seven major consulting companies monopolizing China's elite auditing and consulting sectors. In other subfields, foreign business service firms — like the five major foreign property agencies in real estate operations — dominate, leaving domestic counterparts powerless.
Similarly, overseas, no notable Chinese leasing or business service enterprises operate locally.
Thus, the conclusion: China's outward investments are fundamentally illusory. Economists estimate that of the nearly $3 trillion USD, at least $1.6 trillion is fictitious. That is, they are funds siphoned abroad under investment pretexts and divvied among top elites.
Against this backdrop, the idea of a 23-year-old woman sitting on unimaginable riches no longer seems implausible.
Crashing Xi's Narrative
Thus, what LanLan Yang wrecked was not merely a Mercedes, but Xi Jinping's so-called promise of "common prosperity." Her accident laid bare a cruel contrast: while ordinary Chinese at the bottom struggle desperately just to survive, the likes of Yang drive custom Rolls-Royces in Australia. And if one is smashed, it hardly matters, for another, even more luxurious, waits in the garage.
This stark disparity cuts deeply into the hearts of Chinese people. It raises the haunting question: how much longer can a system endure in which the sweat and blood of a billion ordinary citizens bankroll the unchecked extravagance of a privileged few?
The Dictator's Road
On August 16, former Chinese entrepreneur Hu Liren, now in the United States, shared on his YouTube channel that on the previous day (August 14), two top Shanghai doctors were urgently summoned to Beijing's 301 Hospital for a consultation with a key figure. Hu Liren believed this was Xi Jinping.
Online rumors swiftly claimed that Xi Jinping, overwhelmed by the scandal surrounding his illegitimate daughter Lanlan Yang, had suffered an emotional breakdown and was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
However, on August 20, after more than twenty days out of public sight, Xi suddenly appeared in Lhasa, Tibet. He was attending the celebration of the so-called 60th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. This rendered the rumor of his hospitalization untenable.
Yet almost immediately, another claim surfaced: that the Xi Jinping who appeared in Tibet was merely a body double.
Thus, it has become increasingly difficult to determine which rumors about Xi are true and which are false. At times, even when people know a particular rumor is untrue, they still eagerly spread it. In particular, stories about his unstable grip on power or his imminent downfall circulate with such intensity that they begin to feel "true."
Perhaps, under a system of high pressure where resistance is futile, "rumor" has become the only weapon the people can rely upon.
And amid the entanglement of real facts and false reports, the question of how far Xi Jinping's road of dictatorship can still extend has become an unavoidable problem for both him and the Chinese Communist Party.
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Author: Jennifer Zeng
Find Jennifer Zeng's articles on JAPAN Forward. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) and on her blog page, Jennifer's World.
