Xi Jinping Requests 'Private Rest Area' During U.S. Summit... Health Concerns Resurface
Request for a Private Rest Area and Canceled Working Lunch at the White House
Five-Hour Gap and Reduced Schedule During Brief U.S. Visit
"Unusual Request" Raises Attention on Power Succession
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on October 2 (local time) that Chinese President Xi Jinping, 73, sparked rumors about his health after making an unusual request for rest accommodations during last month's summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to WSJ, the Chinese side requested a private rest area for President Xi inside the West Wing of the White House. Only his wife, Peng Liyuan, was allowed to accompany him in this space; even members of the Chinese delegation were not permitted to enter.
About a month prior to the visit, on September 24, the Chinese delegation canceled a working luncheon with President Trump that had been scheduled. They instead asked for as much rest time as possible for President Xi. As a result, there was reportedly a gap of about five hours in Xi's otherwise brief visit to the United States.
On the evening of his arrival, there were no official events, and his visit to the U.S. National Archives on the final day, September 25, was significantly shortened, ending after only about 10 minutes instead of proceeding as originally planned.
The WSJ reported that in public video footage, President Xi's movements appeared cautious. When disembarking from his private plane, he held onto Peng Liyuan’s hand as well as a railing. At the National Archives, he again held his wife's hand while walking down the steps. Chinese state media are reported to have omitted these scenes from broadcasts aired during prime time.
Earlier, at the BRICS summit in India, WSJ reported that Xi had been in poor health and did not attend the dinner attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin and others.
Dennis Wilder, former Senior Director for China at the White House National Security Council (NSC) under the George W. Bush administration, who oversaw state visits, said that requests for a dedicated rest area by foreign leaders are "extremely rare and unprecedented." He also pointed out that the time allotted for the bilateral summit on September 24 was unusually short for a meeting between the leaders of the world's two largest economies.
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However, experts say that there are no signs of cognitive impairment in President Xi. WSJ noted that with no successor designated and all political power concentrated in Xi’s hands, speculation has arisen that his health could become a variable in China’s power succession and the stability of its political situation.
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