A new claim about Chinese President Xi Jinping’s health has sparked fresh speculation over his leadership and China’s succession plans. Former Tibetan PM-in-Exile Lobsang Sangay has alleged that Xi suffered at least two heart attacks and possibly a third.
Sangay made the claim during an ANI Podcast published on September 3, saying a senior former Chinese official had shared the information with him during a conversation that lasted more than an hour. However, there is no independent evidence or medical confirmation available to substantiate the allegation.
“A former senior official told me that Xi Jinping had, if not three, at least two strokes,” Sangay told ANI.
The remarks have drawn attention not only because of the claim about Xi’s health but also because of Sangay’s comments about the Chinese President’s hold over the Communist Party, changes within the military leadership and the question of who could eventually succeed him.
Unverified Claims About Xi’s Health
Sangay said the former Chinese official had told him that Xi had suffered two heart attacks. He also pointed to what he described as changes in Xi’s appearance and walking style, while alleging that the Chinese leader was experiencing “mental fog”.
“The stress is getting to him, and these attacks have happened, and that bit of mental fog is letting him take these drastic decisions like fighting,” he said in the podcast.
He linked these alleged health concerns to the recent removal of senior military officials and suggested that Xi was facing significant pressure.
However, these claims remain unverified. Sangay did not provide medical records or identify the former Chinese official who allegedly gave him the information. No independent reporting has confirmed that Xi suffered either two or three heart attacks.
Xi’s Recent Public Activity
The health claims have emerged despite Xi continuing to make high-profile public appearances.
Chinese official sources said Xi returned to Beijing on September 3 after attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Kyrgyzstan and making a state visit to Egypt. His continued public engagements do not establish that he is in good health, but they provide context against speculation surrounding his condition.
Why Xi’s Succession Is Drawing Attention
Sangay also raised questions about China’s leadership succession, describing what he called an “Emperor’s dilemma”.
His argument centres on the difficulty faced by a powerful leader in choosing a successor. Publicly naming a successor could create a potential rival with growing influence, while refusing to designate one could leave the leadership transition uncertain and potentially trigger a power struggle.
Sangay suggested that this dilemma could make Xi reluctant to openly identify a future successor.
Who Is Lobsang Sangay?
Sangay served as the Sikyong, or political head, of the Central Tibetan Administration from 2011 to 2021. He is also a senior visiting fellow at Harvard Law School’s East Asian Legal Studies programme.
Given his long-standing criticism of China’s policies towards Tibet, his statements about Xi should be viewed in that political context. For now, the allegations about Xi’s alleged heart attacks remain claims based on an unnamed source and should not be treated as confirmed medical information.
(With Inputs From ANI)
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