Earlier in September, Syrian President Assad and his wife arrived in Hangzhou before the start of the Asian Games. On September 24, they traveled to Beijing.
There was one person who did not leave the side of Syria’s first lady and who captured significant attention on Chinese social media over the past few days: the Chinese female bodyguard accompanying Asma al-Assad.
The ‘beautiful bodyguard’ accompanying the first lady from the start to the end of her China visit. Images via Xinhua.
Photos and videos of the bodyguard soon spread all over Weibo and on other Chinese social media platforms, where people praised her for her beauty (she looks a bit like Chinese actress Zhao Liying) and dashing posture (“英姿飒爽”), her “eyes blazing like torches” (“目光如炬”), her composed demeanor, and the glimpse she offered into China’s secret service.
The online fascination with the female bodyguard is about more than the combination of her charming looks and professional demeanor; it also related to the gender dynamics of a woman working in a typically male-dominated field.
There is also a nationalistic element to it, and a sense of pride in China welcoming Assad within the context of China as a new world leader. This trip marked Assad’s first venture outside the Middle East since the Syrian crisis began in 2011, and it is his first visit to China since 2004. Syria joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in January 2022.
Some netizens focused on scrutinizing the bodyguard’s appearance, analyzing her outfit and hands to find out more about the protocol and training involved.
For example, some observers noticed that the buttons on her suit jacket were uneven, – the left side of her suit jacket’s buttons were noticeably lower than the right side, – speculating that she might have some kind of weapon concealed in her inside pocket. Leaving the jacket unbuttoned might enable her to go from reaching inside to firing in just a few seconds.
Eye for detail, image by @大A小雷哥.
Others noted how her hand joints appeared thicker than the average woman’s, suggesting that she has undergone extensive training.
One blogger (@诤言无昧) reported that the bodyguard, who gained overnight fame this week, is Yan Yuexia (严月霞). Yan is said to be a special Zhongnanhai foreign guest agent for the Beijing Public Security Bureau.
The same blogger also claims that Yan is trained in diplomatic etiquette, foreign languages, combat, shooting, driving, riot control, swimming, water rescue, and more.
According to Taiwan news outlet United Times, Yan Yuexia was trained in martial arts since she was young.
After graduating from the People’s Public Security University of China, she passed the assessment for the ‘Security Guard Bureau’ of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中共中央办公厅警卫局), earning her position as one of the close protection personnel for China’s national-level leaders and becoming a staff member at the Foreign Affairs Security Bureau’s ‘Foreign Guest Protection Department’ (特勤局外宾警卫).
She is an unexpected viral sensation in light of the China visit by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and wife; the Chinese special agent and female bodyguard who accompanied them during their various activities in China. pic.twitter.com/lPQDEKjxc6
— Manya Koetse (@manyapan) September 27, 2023
It is not the first time that someone working within China’s highest diplomatic circles becomes a viral sensation in China. Besides the popularity of China’s diplomats themselves (read), those working ‘behind the scenes’ are often also greatly admired.
One example is interpreter Zhang Jing (张京), who joined the U.S.-China strategic talks in Anchorage in 2021. She gained popularity and respect for her composed and professional translation of China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi’s (杨洁篪) lengthy speech directed at American Secretary Blinken and National Security Advisor Sullivan. Even during challenging moments, she stayed focused and wasn’t hesitant to suggest that she translate first before moving on to the next speaker.
For many younger netizens, these women, both in terms of their intelligence, strength, and composure, along with their good looks, serve as role models and a source of inspiration.
“I admire her strength,” some commenters write about Yan Yuexia. There are also those, however, who are concerned that the bodyguard’s newfound popularity could jeopardize her status as a secret agent. Some have very different concerns, asking: “I wonder what it would take to marry her?”
By Manya Koetse
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