Chinese President Xi Jinping's Health Questioned Ahead of U.S. Visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping's sudden absence from a gala event in India earlier this month has sparked a wave of rumors concerning his health, just days before his planned diplomatic visit to the United States and a meeting with President Donald Trump.

According to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to The Wall Street Journal, Xi canceled his attendance at the BRICS leaders' gala dinner in New Delhi at the last minute. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was forced to step in and mingle with leaders such as Vladimir Putin of Russia and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil. Xi's absence was particularly glaring, as this is his first visit to India in seven years, and after he had already confirmed his attendance at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rumors of Stroke and State Secrets

The absence has sharpened long-standing questions regarding whether the 73-year-old leader is healthy enough to rule China indefinitely. Social media has been flooded with unverified rumors that the president suffered a stroke or fainted. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the claims as fake news, and India's central news agency reported that Xi simply "returned to his hotel room to rest." Footage later showed him boarding his plane without assistance.

Still, sources confirmed that Xi "was not feeling well." The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment. In China, the health of the most powerful leader since Mao Zedong is treated as a fiercely guarded state secret. The lack of transparency was highlighted at the same summit when South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also canceled his attendance due to medical reasons, but his office announced it openly, in stark contrast to the absolute silence from Beijing.

"The problem with the Chinese system is that there is no established and reliable succession process," explains Minxin Pei, a professor and expert on Chinese leadership. "If the top leader is physically or mentally weakened, the system will struggle immensely to afford such a crisis."

The Upcoming Washington Summit

The ultimate test of Xi's condition will arrive next week when the Chinese president is scheduled to land in Washington for his first state visit to the US in over a decade. A packed summit with President Donald Trump covering explosive issues including artificial intelligence, Iran, Taiwan, and global trade is planned for next Thursday.

• Visit preparations remain officially on track.

• President Trump told reporters on Friday that they will have a "very good meeting."

All eyes are now focused on the steps of the Chinese Air Force One. If Xi arrives looking energetic, the rumors will likely dissipate; if not, questions surrounding his health and potential successors will only intensify.