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Peru’s Jeri Faces Probe and Impeachment Push Over Undisclosed China Meetings

A prosecutor’s inquiry plus congressional moves is sharpening scrutiny of Peru’s reliance on Chinese trade.

Peruvian President Jose Jeri gestures as he testifies before a congressional committee to address undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman, a case that has intensified scrutiny over his government's transparency and accountability, in Lima, Peru, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Gerardo Marin
Peruvian President Jose Jeri gestures as he testifies before a congressional committee to address undisclosed meetings with a Chinese businessman, a case that has intensified scrutiny over his government's transparency and accountability, in Lima, Peru, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Gerardo Marin
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Overview

  • Jeri acknowledged three meetings with businessman Zhihua Yang between December and January and denies any wrongdoing.
  • Prosecutors opened a preliminary influence-peddling inquiry while opposition lawmakers filed impeachment motions to remove him.
  • Yang owns retail businesses and an energy concession and has been cited in congressional probes as aiding Chinese firms under investigation.
  • Support has eroded, with approval falling to 41% per Datum and 78% in an Ipsos poll perceiving signs of corruption in the meetings.
  • The case is refocusing attention on China’s sway in Peru—33% of trade, roughly 70% of copper sales, and the Chancay megaport—during stepped-up U.S. scrutiny ahead of the April 12 election.