Hello everyone, welcome to “News Focus”. Today is Thursday, May 8th on the East Coast and Friday, May 9th in the Asia-Pacific region.
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Is this the fourth time Xi Jinping fell ill? Head tilted involuntarily; Reinforcement troops discreetly entering Beijing, preparing for the Fourth Plenum? Beijing inspections becoming mandatory, some carrying guns and gasoline? Guangzhou’s foreign trade dropping by 70%, incidents during the May Day holiday.
Tomorrow in Manhattan, New York, a parade will be held to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and the 33rd anniversary of the spread of Falun Dafa. I will be there live-streaming the event, allowing interactive engagement online. The parade starts at 11 am, and my live coverage will begin a bit earlier. Stay tuned!
Today, on the 8th, Xi Jinping and Putin held a meeting at the Kremlin. According to Chinese state media, this marks the 45th meeting since Xi took office, averaging four to five meetings a year. This might be the last one as there are concerns about Xi’s health. Additionally, the CCP might be preparing for a major assembly.
On a lighter note, Russian media released footage of Xi Jinping and Putin’s entrance to the meeting, which was quite humorous. They entered through different doors, walked towards each other along a carpet, shook hands, and posed for photos in an empty hall with only a few media and officials present.
This entrance scenario is commonly seen at weddings, and Russia’s choice was unexpected and strange, possibly showcasing the “unconditional cooperation” between China and Russia. Xi Jinping seemed overly excited, and during the subsequent meeting, he appeared to have health issues.
In the Russian official media footage, there was a peculiar scene involving Xi Jinping for 9 seconds. Xi Jinping kept blinking his eyes, and his head seemed to involuntarily tilt to the left multiple times, with corrections made thrice.
Given the analysis from the perspective of China-Russia relations’ “unconditional cooperation,” this footage was likely not intentionally chosen by Russian media. Thus, Xi Jinping possibly remained in this state throughout the meeting with no alternative.
It’s quite perplexing why Xi Jinping displayed such behavior. Could it be a recurrence of his previous health issues? Consulting medical friends, they mentioned that frequent blinking, involuntary head tilting, and corrections are common symptoms of neurological disorders like stroke, Parkinson’s, or transient ischemic attacks.
Regarding rumors of Xi Jinping’s stroke, they have surfaced at least three times in the past. The first incidence was earlier, in 2022, appearing with unstable gait and facial stiffness in public. Rumors suggested he had a stroke and the instability was a lingering symptom.
The second time was in July 2024, during the CCP’s Third Plenum, when online rumors of Xi Jinping’s stroke circulated. Shortly after the plenum, photos with visiting Vietnamese leaders revealed a significant bald patch on Xi Jinping’s neck.
Medical experts mentioned that a missing patch of hair likely resulted from pre-surgery preparation. Following this incident, Xi Jinping showed unsteady gait in public appearances.
The third time was shortly after the 2025 Chinese New Year when a reliable source in Beijing disclosed Xi Jinping’s recurrent stroke during the holiday. However, Xi Jinping, fearing surgery, opted for alternative therapy.
These incidents raise concerns about Xi Jinping’s health with potential implications on China’s political landscape.
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