🇨🇳 Rumors about Xi 🧸
Questions about Xi Jinping’s health emerged during the BRICS Summit in New Delhi after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi briefly interrupted his opening remarks on September 12 to ask Xi twice, “Is it OK?” Footage broadcast by India’s Doordarshan showed a staff member approaching Xi and handing him something, although it was unclear what had happened. The incident nevertheless triggered online speculation about Xi’s health. Some Indian media reports offered an alternative explanation, suggesting that it could have been related to a microphone or translation issue.
Independent commentator Xiang Yang made another observation, saying that Xi appeared to have difficulty walking up the aircraft stairs when leaving India. He described Xi as showing apparent weakness on the left side of his body. Xiang speculated that this could indicate damage to the right side of the brain, which controls movement on the left side of the body. This was Xiang Yang’s speculation and has not been medically confirmed.
Source: Epoch Times, September 14, 2026
Newsweek: Xi Jinping Health Rumors Explained: What We Know and Don’t Know:
Speculation about Xi Jinping's health is swirling following rumors that the Chinese president fell ill at a summit hosted by India. A U.S.-based activist and political exile from China alleged that Xi had a stroke during the event.
Xi attended the latest annual BRICS summit in New Delhi over the weekend, joining officials from other nations in the alliance launched to increase political and economic cooperation between nations of the “Global South."
Following the summit, which Russian President Vladimir Putin also attended, Wanjun Xie reposted on X what he described as “rumors” that Xi “fainted at the BRICS summit hosted by India,” ending his visit earlier than intended and returning to China “on a special plane.”
This came after Cyril Ramaphosa's office said the South African president was suffering “ill health” after returning from the summit.
New Delhi has denied that any world leaders became sick during the conference. India's Ministry of External Affairs took to X to “caution against” the “malicious” claims that have taken off across social media.
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According to Xie, chairman of the China Democratic Party, currently banned in the country, Xi suffered a “transient ischemic attack,” or “mini-stroke,” during the summit and was forced to depart early. In a series of X posts, Xie said the Chinese president was receiving treatment in a locked-down section of Beijing’s 301 Hospital—the country's largest military medical center.
There has been no official comment or confirmation of Xi’s condition from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). And Xi was filmed walking up the stairs into his plane before leaving India, though Xie said that the president “struggled to climb the steps.”
Part of the discourse stemmed from a moment involving Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an opening roundtable at the summit.
“Is it OK?” Modi asks, while gesturing to Xi, who nods, before continuing his remarks.
“Xi Jinping is not well. This time, China could not hide his condition,” the American political analyst and China hawk Gordon Chang posted to X, alongside an edited image of Xi appearing unwell at the meeting.
MediaITE, via Yahoo News: Veteran Reporter Says ‘Rumors Are Flying’ In China that Leader Is Sick, Rivals Are ‘Mobilizing for Civil War’:
Veteran national security reporter Bill Gertz posted to social media on Wednesday that wild "rumors are flying" about Chinese leader Xi Jinping's health and a possible plot to oust him from power.
"Rumors are flying in China over Xi Jinping begin [sic] taken ill during his visit to India. They include claims that he suffered a minor illness to experiencing a stroke worsened by failure to treat early," wrote Gertz, a national security correspondent for The Washington Times.
"Some wild claims say rival group armies are mobilizing for civil war. No confirmation but Treasury Sec Bessent is meeting with Chinese counterparts today and we'll see if the summit for Sept. 24 is still on," he added.
Gertz, a former fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution, has written eight books and been at the Washington Times since 1985.
Gertz's post quickly raised eyebrows across the media. Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt responded, "Bill is a serious reporter. Has been on China Watch for decades. So watch this space."
Journalist Dave Troy added, "It's now being reported that in addition to Xi, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa also became ill after attending the BRICS summit in India."
Political analyst Gordon Chang added, "There are sensational rumors that the Chinese military has freed two of Xi Jinping's most powerful enemies, Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang. If these rumors are true—they're hard to believe—Xi will not feel safe leaving China."
The Independent: Rumours about Xi Jinping’s health swirl after Chinese leader returns quickly from India:
Speculations about the 73-year-old leader's failing health began on Monday after the chair of the China Democracy Party, an unregistered political organisation, alleged in a post on X that Mr Xi fainted during the Brics summit and was flown back to China for emergency medical treatment.
Xie Wanjun, who is based in the US, alleged that Mr Xi suffered a severe ischemic stroke, but refused treatment in Delhi. Mr Xie claimed the Chinese president was taken to the Beijing 301 Hospital after landing back in his country.
"When boarding the plane, Xi Jinping walked with difficulty, his steps faltering, his body repeatedly leaning to the left,” Mr Xie alleged.
American journalist Bill Gertz said on Wednesday that “rumours are flying” about Mr Xi’s health and claimed there was speculation that "rival group armies are mobilising for civil war".
Henry Gao, a law professor at Singapore Management University, said "anyone dismissing the recent China rumours as 'just rumours' needs a masterclass in Chinese history".
"In right hands”, he said, rumours could become "political weapons".
“Xi Jinping is not well. This time, China could not hide his condition,” political analyst Gordon Chang posted. “There are sensational rumours that the Chinese military has freed two of Xi Jinping’s most powerful enemies, Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang. If these rumours are true – they’re hard to believe – Xi will not feel safe leaving China.”