Buzz on Xi Jinping's health after Chinese dissident's claim; post gets note on X

A Chinese dissident, Wanjun Xie, claimed on X that Chinese President Xi Jinping fainted during the Brics summit in New Delhi and was later taken to Beijing's 301 Hospital. There are no reports backing his claim and his post on X has a community note, saying the tweet is inconsistent with facts.

In Short

• Xi Jinping skipped BRICS gala dinner in Delhi after a packed summit
• China Democracy Party chief claimed Xi fainted during the summit in Delhi
• He alleged doctors diagnosed Xi with a severe ischaemic stroke

Chinese President Xi Jinping's health became the subject of speculation after a Chinese dissident, Wanjun Xie, claimed in a post on X that Xi fainted during the Brics summit in New Delhi and later suffered a severe ischaemic stroke. There was no credible report that backed the claim, and the post has received a community note on X, flagging it for being inconsistent with facts.

President Xi was in New Delhi for the Brics summit on September 12. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Xi had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit, and discussed border peace and trade among other issues.

Wanjun's post on social media claimed that Xi was flown back to Beijing for emergency treatment at the People's Liberation Army General Hospital, commonly known as 301 Hospital. Wanjun is the chairman of the China Democracy Party (CDP), which has been banned in China. He stays in the US, inputs suggest.

There has been no official confirmation from either Beijing or New Delhi that Xi had any health issues, leave alone a stroke, and had to be admitted to a hospital after his India visit.

Brief reports on Chinese official media confirm that Xi returned to China on a plane with other officials.

"Chinese President Xi Jinping returned to Beijing on Sunday evening after attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi," gov.cn reported.

"Xi's entourage, including Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, returned on the same flight," it added.

XI'S ABSENCE FROM BRICS DINNER FUELS QUESTIONS

Xi arrived in New Delhi on September 12 for the 18th Brics summit, his first visit to India in seven years. He attended the summit and held the bilateral meeting before skipping the gala dinner hosted by Modi at Bharat Mandapam.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and several other Brics leaders attended the dinner, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi represented Beijing in Xi's absence. Reports said Xi returned to his hotel to rest after a busy day, although there was no official explanation for his absence.

During the summit, Xi called on Brics countries to play a role in resolving the West Asia conflict, saying the war "does not serve the common interests of the international community". He also announced that China would assume the Brics chairmanship next year and host the 19th summit.

Xi and PM Modi also held bilateral talks focused on improving ties between India and China, including issues linked to the border and trade relations.

DISSIDENT'S CLAIMS ON XI'S STROKE, HOSPITALISATION

A moment when PM Modi stopped his speech and asked if Xi was alright after it seemed the Chinese president was uncomfortable fuelled the speculation regarding the latter's health.

Video footage showed Modi turning towards Xi's translator and asking, "Is it okay?" The Chinese president appeared to respond before PM Modi continued with his remarks. It wasn't clear what had caused Xi's apparent discomfort. It could have been some issue with the mic or translation of his speech.

In his first post, Wanjun claimed Xi "fainted at the BRICS summit" and received emergency treatment from his accompanying medical team before being flown back to China on a special plane. He alleged that Xi refused treatment at an Indian hospital because he feared his health condition could become known to the Indian side.

This claim is inconsistent with the facts as Chinese media has reported that Xi returned on a plane with other members of his government, and not a special plane as Wanjun claimed.

Wanjun further claimed that, after the plane landed in Beijing, Xi was taken directly from the airport to 301 Hospital by military helicopter rather than being received by a large group of officials in a formal welcome ceremony.

Going by previous reports, there are no grand welcome ceremonies hosted to welcome back Xi. It is a quiet affair, with official media issuing brief notes, like they did this time too.

According to Wanjun, doctors at 301 Hospital diagnosed Xi with a severe ischaemic stroke, which he described as a transient cerebral infarction. He alleged that the long flight from New Delhi to Beijing meant Xi missed the "golden window" for emergency treatment and surgery. He also claimed that doctors could provide only basic treatment during the flight because surgery was not possible on board.

In a subsequent post, Wanjun claimed Xi had undergone surgery at 301 Hospital and was being monitored in an intensive care unit.

"It is rumored that Xi Jinping is currently receiving emergency treatment at Beijing's 301 Hospital and has not yet escaped life-threatening danger," Xie wrote.

He also alleged that Chinese military theatre commands and group armies had entered a heightened state of combat readiness, with their headquarters holding meetings and monitoring developments in the country's situation.

None of these claims has been independently verified. There has been no official confirmation from Beijing or New Delhi that Xi fainted, suffered a stroke, underwent surgery or was admitted to 301 Hospital.

There is a community note on Wanjun's post on X. "...Assertions lack evidence and are inconsistent with the facts," it says.

WHO IS WANJUN XIE AND WHAT IS CHINA DEMOCRACY PARTY?

But who is Wanjun Xie? Wanjun is the chairman of the China Democracy Party (CDP), also known as the Democracy Party of China, a banned political organisation founded in China in 1998.

The CDP was established by democracy activists, including former participants in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Between June 25 and 28, 1998, founders, including Wang Youcai, Wang Donghai and Lin Hui attempted to register the party with civil affairs authorities in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, during a visit to China by then-US President Bill Clinton.

The Chinese Communist Party banned the organisation shortly after its formation. Several of its leaders were arrested, tried and imprisoned, while the group subsequently operated largely from outside China. It has since established branches and committees in countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.

The CDP advocates multi-party constitutional democracy, direct elections, separation of powers, freedom of speech and association, and the rule of law. Its stated principles include "Prosperity, Fairness, Democracy" and "Freedom, Rule of Law, Human Rights."

The organisation is banned in China. US State Department human rights reports and Human Rights Watch have documented the Chinese authorities' monitoring, detention and imprisonment of current and former CDP members.

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