Xi Jinping Health Rumors Surface Again Following BRICS Summit Incident

Speculation surrounding the health of Chinese President Xi Jinping has intensified following an incident at the BRICS summit where a video appeared to show Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pausing his speech to check on Xi's wellbeing. The footage depicted Modi turning towards Xi and repeatedly asking "Is it okay?" as aides gathered around the Chinese leader.

Further fueling the rumors, Xi did not attend the gala dinner hosted by Modi for the BRICS leaders. This absence, coupled with the earlier exchange, prompted widespread commentary online about his health status.

However, the apparent concern at the summit was later attributed to a malfunctioning earpiece that prevented Xi from hearing the translator. Despite this clarification, the incident revived long-standing rumors about Xi's health, which have previously included speculation about heart attacks, cancer, and strokes.

These health rumors have been a recurring theme for years. A significant period of concern occurred in 2012 when Xi, then the country's vice-president, experienced a two-week "mystery disappearance" from public view, leading to theories of an attempted assassination.

More recently, online speculation was amplified by Wanjun Xie, chairman of the China Democratic Party, an outlawed opposition group. Xie posted on X (formerly Twitter) in Chinese, claiming Xi fell ill during the summit's opening ceremony and was immediately attended to by first aid before being flown back to China due to a medical emergency. This post garnered millions of views, with Xie alleging Xi "walked with difficulty" upon leaving the summit and characterizing his regime as "dying."

Anti-China activists and commentators, such as lawyer Gordon G. Chang, echoed these claims, with Chang stating, "Xi Jinping is not well. This time, China could not hide his condition."

These allegations persisted despite photographic evidence showing Xi in India throughout the summit and walking to board his aircraft back to China without apparent assistance. Previous instances of such speculation have also been debunked. In July 2024, a widely circulated photo allegedly showing Xi wincing in pain, leading to claims of a stroke, was later identified as being taken four months prior, with Xi merely reacting to a drink he had consumed at the National People’s Congress.

Health matters concerning Chinese leaders are typically treated as state secrets. This lack of transparency, combined with China's strict internet censorship, often allows rumors to flourish among critics of the Communist Party. The 2012 disappearance, for instance, was exacerbated by the absence of an official explanation, which fueled theories ranging from a heart attack to an attempted assassination, and even suggested a potential power struggle within the party.

Past discussions have also touched upon longevity and advanced medical procedures. In September 2025, a hot mic captured a conversation between Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussing immortality through organ transplants. Xi commented on the increased lifespan of modern individuals, suggesting a possibility of living to 150 in the current century, while Putin remarked on continuous organ transplantation leading to a more youthful state and potential immortality. This conversation occurred against a backdrop of UN reports alleging credible information about China's forced organ harvesting from minority groups.