He is the son of Pheung Kya-shin, his immediate predecessor as commander of the MNDAA, and had waged a war against the Tatmadaw and government of Myanmar to reclaim control over the region of Kokang.
[9] It was speculated that the elder Peng had been grooming his son to be his successor; however, in a telephone interview with Voice of America, he stated: "I am in this position now, to this extent, because of current events.
[8] By 2012, an arrest warrant for Peng remained outstanding in Myanmar, alleging that he, along with his father and two other leaders of the MNDAA, were illegally producing and selling weapons and ammunition.
[11][12] In his efforts to retake Kokang, Peng has received support from other members of the Three Brotherhood Alliance, and the MNDAA has grown into one of Myanmar's most powerful ethnic armed organisations (EAOs).
[17][18] By January 28, Peng issued a Chinese New Year message, his first public statement since the end of his detainment, pledging to "uphold China's favorable policy of 'encouraging peace and promoting dialogue' for Myanmar".