BREAKING! Trump-Xi Meeting In Doubt? Xi Health Rumors Surge After Missing BRICS Banquet

Chinese leader Xi Jinping was slated to attend the BRIC summit in New Delhi on September 12, but the Wall Street Journal reported that he cancelled due to feeling unwell. Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the dinner in his place. Xi had previously accepted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation, but withdrew at the last minute. Beijing did not explain the reason for Xi's absence, and the Chinese embassy in Washington did not respond to media inquiries. The report also noted that there is currently no evidence Xi suffered a However, his absence from the summit dinner has once again raised questions about his health and possible future leadership transition. According to public reports, Xi attended the 18th BRIC summit in India on September 12-13. He stayed in India for only about 24 hours, and returned to China earlier than other leaders on September 13. Later this month, Xi Jinping is set to visit the United States and meet with US President Around the same time, details from Xi's appearance at the BRIC summit, including his unusual posture, have fueled widespread speculation about his health. A video circulating online shows Xi walking up the stairs to his plane. His steps appeared heavy, his left arm barely moved naturally, and remained stiff at his side. His body appeared to lean slightly to one side, with much of his weight supported by his right leg and the right side of his body. Each step seemed to require significant effort from his left leg. Some online commentators analyzed the footage, suggesting that Xi's limited movement could indicate one-sided neurological issues. They speculated that it might be related to a minor stroke, transient ischemic attack, or early symptoms of Parkinson's. Some social media accounts even claimed that Xi suddenly collapsed during the BRIC summit and was later taken to Beijing for treatment. However, these claims have not been confirmed by Chinese authorities, the Indian government, or other reliable sources. At nearly the same time, another video showing an interaction between Xi and Modi also circulated on social media. At the BRIC summit, Modi was seen asking Xi twice, is it okay? Combined with Xi's later absence from the dinner, the exchange attracted significant attention. In response to serious health rumors circulating online, Russia's state television channel Russia One released footage from the scene, saying that the issue at the time was only a malfunction with Xi's simultaneous translation earpiece, and that staff members were adjusting the equipment for him. Previously, when Xi Jinping traveled to Kyrgyzstan on August 30th, a video of him and his wife getting off the plane widely circulated on social platforms. The footage showed Xi holding onto or leaning on the first lady's left hand while walking down the aircraft stairs. His pace appeared relatively slow, and his movements seemed somewhat stiff. More notably, in the footage released that night by CCTV and other Chinese state media, a 17-second clip of Xi walking down the stairs was completely removed. The video abruptly cut from Xi waving at the aircraft door directly to a close-up shot of him on the tarmac. The editing did not ease outside speculation, but instead became a focus of further discussion. Xi's health has long been treated by Beijing as a highly sensitive state secret. This is one reason rumors and speculation about his health have continued for years. Political commentator Jennifer Zeng cited former CCP official Du Wen as saying that Xi suffers from cerebellar atrophy, a condition that is difficult to treat because unlike problems involving other organs, it cannot be addressed through an organ transplant. Recently, medical documents allegedly hacked from the 301 military hospital appeared online and claimed that Xi had undergone two MRI exams. Xi's unstable walking has been difficult to dispel. As rumors spread overseas, they have further fueled speculation about Xi's concerns over maintaining power. Taiwanese researcher Zhong Zhidong said speculation about Xi's health has continued largely because Xi broke with previous leadership succession practices, creating further uncertainty about the future. Economist Wu Jialong wrote on Facebook that based on several recent developments, Xi's health situation deserves attention. He linked together rumors about Chinese businessman Ren Zhengfei's family, internal CCP power arrangements, and the possibility that Trump may personally greet Xi during his upcoming visit. Wu suggests that these developments could reflect possible changes taking place in China's political landscape. Wu believes that Xi definitely encountered a health issue. He argued that in a highly centralized political system, if a top leader experiences a major problem, information may not be immediately released and could instead first enter a period of restriction and control. Some media outlets interpreted the footage as showing that Xi was not experiencing health problems at the time, but was instead dealing with a malfunctioning earpiece. Wu, however, argued that the footage was created using AI and speculated that Russia may have intended to provide cover for Xi's health situation. However, there is currently no public and authoritative evidence confirming the claim that the Russian video was AI generated. Outside observers argue that the biggest risk in an authoritarian system is that an individual leader's health becomes closely tied to the country's political stability. In an environment with extremely limited transparency, even minor developments involving a leader's health can trigger major political uncertainty. This vulnerability created by highly centralized power has long been apparent. Chinese authorities officially announced on September 21st that Xi Jinping will make a state visit to the United States from September 23rd to 25th and meet with Donald Trump. This will be Xi's first American visit in three years and his first state visit to the country in 11 years. Radio Free Asia columnist Xing Gao Di wrote on X that Beijing only made the announcement shortly before Xi's departure, which he described as highly unusual. Xing analyzed that while the official explanation focused on disagreements over US arms sales to Taiwan, he believed that was definitely an excuse. He claimed the real reason was Xi's health condition. According to him, after returning from India, Xi had spent time in a hospital. He also said that under past CCP practices, Xi would normally meet with senior officials and issue instructions after returning from overseas trips, but this time he had not appeared in state media since returning. Xing argued that Xi's US visit was originally intended as a way for both Xi and Trump to meet their own political needs and provide mutual support. He said that if Xi refused to travel, it could trigger criticism from Trump and fuel domestic speculation. According to his analysis, refusing the visit would bring more disadvantages than benefits, while going ahead carried both risks and benefits. He suggested Xi may have decided to proceed despite concerns, even facing the possibility of another health incident or an embarrassing situation. The renewed attention surrounding his health is also linked to recent personnel changes in the Chinese military. In recent years, Xi has carried out repeated military purges, with multiple senior officers investigated or removed. With little transparency regarding the health of China's top leader, military shake-ups have been connected to questions about the leader's political standing. On September 21, Chinese authorities announced that Zhang Yongxia, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, former chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC, have been expelled from the party and military over serious violations of discipline and law. Zhang and Liu, who were removed from public view in January, were officially stripped of their military positions and Congress roles in late August. Previous official statements regarding the case frame it as involving a power struggle, accusing them of seriously undermining the system. According to an exclusive report by the Epoch Times, the formal removal of Zhang and Liu has caused renewed shock within the military. Active-duty officers reportedly feel anger and frustration, while retired officers have reacted even more strongly, with some drinking alone at home and others refusing calls from their former units. Zhang Yongxia has served on the Central Military Commission for more than a decade. As a veteran general, a member of the Red Princelings, and a commander who fought in the China-Vietnam War, he has held significant influence within the military. Xi's sudden move against Zhang has raised speculation that many in the military may sympathize with him. Some officers reportedly feel that if one powerful figure can be removed, others could face the same fate. While they may be unable to organize any actual opposition, such dissatisfaction could continue to spread and potentially erupt in the future. Shen Minshi, a researcher at Taiwan's Institute for Defense and National Security Research, said that after previous cases involving disloyal senior officers, Xi may feel uneasy about traveling abroad. He said that political purges have also created fear among senior officials across different systems. To avoid becoming targets, many officials have become increasingly passive, causing policymaking and local governance to slow significantly. During Xi's overseas visit, he may need to monitor domestic developments remotely. Shen analyzed that Zhang and Liu both have real combat experience. Their removal, combined with the authorities' investigations into corruption involving rocket force procurement, the equipment development department, and the military-industrial system, has already affected China's advanced military technology development, supply chains, and the progress of more sophisticated weapons programs. He said Xi's personnel choices have placed excessive emphasis on personal loyalty. Those who gain power by flattering and pleasing him rise quickly, while those who are not promoted may develop resentment. In the event of military operations, this could affect morale. He added If the restructuring process doesn't go smoothly, it can create significant instability within the military. The issues most likely to affect the Trump-Xi meeting are not only Xi's health, but also substantive issues previously discussed, including arms sales to Taiwan. On September 21, multiple major media outlets, including the New York Times and Reuters, reported that key topics for the meeting could include extending the trade truce, rare earths, AI safety, and the Iran issue. Taiwan arms sales remain one of Beijing's main points of pressure. On September 20, the Daily Telegraph reported that Beijing threatened to cancel Xi's September 24 meeting with Trump in protest of a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan. Beijing reiterated that Taiwan is a redline issue. A senior U.S. official with close ties to the Trump administration denied that the report was accurate, saying diplomatic preparations were continuing. Chinese diplomat Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also held a phone call to discuss high-level talks. Trump has previously paused arms sales as a negotiating tactic. Some experts said such moves are a familiar pressure tactic by Beijing, warning that delaying arms sales could weaken Taiwan's defenses and increase the risk of conflict. More notably, as Xi's U.S. visit approaches, the White House continued to issue strong statements, saying that communism directly opposes the U.S. Constitution and American values. The statement said that while every Democrat voted against what it called the largest tax cut in U.S. history, more than 100 lawmakers refused to condemn socialism, President Trump would ensure that communism never gains a foothold in the United States. At this critical moment, Washington's public messaging targeting the CCP was viewed by some observers as a deliberate strategic signal. On the surface, it came amid reports that Beijing threatened to cancel the Sept. 24 meeting over Taiwan arms sales. At a deeper level, the strategy reflects an effort to strengthen the U.S. position in diplomatic negotiations and use the issue of red lines as a way to reintroduce coordination among allies. First, the strong response from the United States was counter to what it described as Beijing's habitual bluffing tactics. By signaling the possibility of cancelling the meeting ahead of a major summit, Beijing aimed to create psychological pressure and push Washington to make concessions on arms sales or other issues. However, the U.S. did not back down. Instead, by emphasizing that communism is opposed to American values, it elevated the issue and transformed Taiwan arms sales from a simple bilateral dispute into a broader competition over values. This approach has not only weakened the impact of Beijing's threats, but also made its red line appear more like a performance aimed at reinforcing regime legitimacy rather than a Second, the U.S. warning was also aimed at reassuring and mobilizing its allies in the Asia-Pacific region. Taiwan arms sales themselves serve as a test of the alliance system. If the United States appeared hesitant or retreated before Xi's visit, it could undermine confidence among its allies. By emphasizing anti-communist values during this sensitive period, the U.S. was sending a message of political alliance. Even in the face of pressure from Beijing, Washington could continue institutional competition and would not sacrifice allied security for the sake of a high-level meeting. Diplomatically, this approach effectively set the framework for negotiations in advance, establishing the tone of the meeting on the premise that the United States would not back down. The deeper strategic consideration is that the United States wants to prevent Beijing from turning the cancellation of the meeting into a bargaining chip. Trump needs political gains while Beijing needs to demonstrate toughness. Neither side wants to easily give up this high-level meeting. But if the United States remained silent at this moment, it would allow Beijing to control the agenda. By taking the initiative to respond, the United States instead shifted the pressure back onto Beijing. If the meeting were actually cancelled, Beijing would be seen as responsible for disrupting international communication. If the meeting continued, it would have to take place within the framework of values set by Washington. This strategy not only weakened the credibility of Beijing's threat but also provided Trump with additional political leverage domestically. Analysts believe the strong U.S. response and Beijing's threat to cancel the meeting are directly connected. More importantly, the United States used this opportunity to transform a bilateral dispute into a stage for broader systemic competition. This is a typical dynamic in the U.S.-China-Taiwan triangle. Beijing attempts to create leverage through threats. The U.S. seeks to counter those threats through values-based competition. And Taiwan becomes a central issue, testing the strength of the alliance. Ultimately, influence is determined not by who speaks more aggressively, but by who can turn pressure into strategic advantage.