Is Xi Jinping unwell? Unusual rest arrangements during Trump summit spark health questions

Chinese President Xi Jinping's health has come under renewed scrutiny after The Wall Street Journal reported that Beijing made unusual arrangements for the 73-year-old leader to get additional rest during his recent Washington summit with US President Donald Trump. According to the report, Chinese officials asked the White House to provide Xi with a private room in the West Wing where he could rest between engagements. Only his wife, Peng Liyuan, was reportedly allowed to accompany him, while other members of the Chinese delegation, including Xi's chief of staff Cai Qi, were excluded from the room. The arrangements have prompted questions about Xi's physical condition, although there is no public evidence establishing that he has a specific illness or serious medical condition. The report also noted that some adjustments to his schedule could have been related to the roughly 14-hour journey from Beijing and jet lag. Why did Xi need extra rest? The WSJ reported that Chinese officials sought additional downtime for Xi and asked US counterparts to cancel a planned working lunch with Trump on September 24, the main day of the summit. The changes reportedly created a gap of about five hours in Xi's schedule. No engagements were planned for the evening of his arrival in Washington. Xi's itinerary was also shortened during his visit to the US National Archives on September 25. He spent around 10 minutes there, considerably less time than US officials had initially planned. The report said the schedule appeared to be organised around when Xi would need breaks and how long he could remain on his feet. Xi's movements draw attention The WSJ also highlighted Xi's movements during the visit. As he stepped down from his aircraft at Joint Base Andrews, he was seen holding Peng's hand while also using the aircraft railing for support. Two days later, the couple were again seen holding hands while climbing the steps of the National Archives alongside Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Such gestures by themselves do not establish a medical condition, and Xi has previously been seen holding Peng's hand at public events. The report nevertheless mentioned that some of these moments were not included in Chinese state television's prime-time coverage. Health questions had emerged earlier The latest report comes shortly after Xi skipped a dinner during the BRICS summit in New Delhi. It was previouosly reported that Xi was feeling unwell and withdrew from the dinner at the last minute, with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attending in his place. His absence led to speculation about his health, including unverified claims of a serious medical episode. There has been no confirmed public evidence of a stroke or another major illness. Questions about Xi's physical condition have surfaced periodically in the past. Similar speculation followed his 2019 European tour after footage appeared to show him walking with a slight limp and using a chair for support. Dennis Wilder, a former senior director for Asian affairs at the US National Security Council, told the WSJ that the request for a private resting room was highly unusual. "When I managed visits for former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and President Xi's predecessor, Hu Jintao, nothing like this ever happened," he said, calling it "very unusual." Wilder also noted that the bilateral meeting between Trump and Xi began around noon on September 24 and ended in the early afternoon. He remarked that "the duration was far too short for a meeting between the leaders of the world's two largest economies." The report noted that questions surrounding Xi's health carry wider significance because of the concentration of political power around him and the absence of a publicly designated successor. However, the report did not establish that Xi is suffering from a particular medical condition.