Xi Misses BRICS Dinner as Health Speculation Resurges Ahead of U.S. Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is scheduled to visit the United States next week, is once again at the center of health speculation after he skipped the BRICS summit dinner recently held in India.

According to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 18th (local time), President Xi was initially scheduled to attend the BRICS summit gala dinner in New Delhi, India, on the 12th but canceled at the last minute. Multiple sources reported that he withdrew from the event because he was feeling unwell.

On the morning of the 1st, President Xi Jinping is applauding at the 105th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Communist Party of China held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. Photo by Yonhap News

This was Xi’s first visit to India in seven years, and he had accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to the dinner, so there was considerable attention on the reasons behind his absence. Afterwards, online rumors circulated suggesting he was suffering from a serious illness or a stroke.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs dismissed these claims as “fake.” Footage was also released showing Xi boarding a plane unaided as he returned to China. The WSJ likewise reported that there is no evidence to support the health rumors circulating online.

However, as the Chinese authorities have not officially explained the reason for Xi's absence from the dinner, speculation continues.

The speculation regarding Xi’s health is also tied to the issue of succession in Chinese leadership. Since abolishing presidential term limits in 2018, President Xi has not designated a clear successor. As a result, interest is growing in how power would be transferred should the supreme leader develop health problems.

Xi’s health condition is drawing even more attention ahead of his planned visit to the United States next week. On the 24th, he is scheduled to hold a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss issues including trade, artificial intelligence (AI), and cross-strait relations. So far, there are no signs of changes to his schedule for the U.S. visit.

This is not the first time rumors about Xi’s health have emerged. In recent years, foreign media and online sources have repeatedly speculated about his health based on his public appearances and movements.

However, some observers point out that it is difficult to judge a person's health solely by their gait or isolated footage. China’s strong practice of keeping the health status of its top leader strictly confidential has also contributed to the ongoing rumors due to the lack of available information.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.