Did Xi Jinping Suffer a Stroke at BRICS and Hurry Home?

By Tenzin Chokyi

DHARAMSALA, 17 Sept: Unverified claims that Chinese President Xi Jinping suffered a stroke during the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi have circulated on popular social media platform X, with Wanjun Xie, chairman of the China Democracy Party, claiming that Xi received emergency treatment before returning to China for surgery.

In a series of posts, Xie said Xi collapsed during the summit on 12 September and was treated by his accompanying medical team. According to him, Xi refused treatment at an Indian hospital and returned to China, where he was taken by military helicopter to the People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, commonly known as 301 Hospital.

Xie further said doctors at the hospital diagnosed Xi with a severe ischaemic stroke, after which he underwent surgery and was placed in intensive care. He also claimed Xi was given medication before boarding his flight from New Delhi. The claims have not been independently verified, and no medical records or hospital statements have been provided to substantiate them.

China’s published account, however, places Xi’s departure within the announced schedule of his India visit. China’s Foreign Ministry had said Xi would attend the BRICS summit from 12 to 13 September. Its records show that Xi attended both sessions of the summit and returned to Beijing at noon on 13 September after concluding his visit.

Online attention has also focused on Xi’s absence from a gala dinner hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a video in which Modi appears to turn towards Xi’s interpreter and ask, “Is it okay?” after Xi briefly appeared uncomfortable. Neither incident provides evidence of a medical condition.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs’ official fact-checking account, MEA Fact Check, on 17 September issued a broader warning against social media posts claiming that several BRICS leaders had fallen ill after the summit. It labelled the claims a “Fake Alert” and cautioned against what it called “malicious posts” circulating online, including claims concerning Xi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The MEA, however, did not specifically name Wanjun Xie or respond to each of his claims. There has been no official confirmation from Beijing or New Delhi that Xi suffered a stroke or was hospitalised.

The speculation comes ahead of Xi’s expected visit to the United States, where he is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump.  

As of 17 September, the claims concerning Xi’s health remain unverified.