Rumors in China: Did he have a stroke or didn’t he? Only Xi Jinping’s doctors know for sure

American Thinker ^ | 10/11/2025 | Andrea Widburg

[SeekAndFind]

In a dictatorship, there’s always the risk that, when you show up at one of these party meetings, you will suddenly find yourself facing a coup. Keep that in mind as you contemplate the rumors about Xi’s health. This is the best summary I’ve seen about the stories that began to circulate on Thursday about Xi’s alleged stroke:

What’s Being Claimed: An anonymous "CCP insider" (via exiled former official Du Wen) alleges Xi suffered a sudden, severe stroke in Beijing on October 9, described as "extremely critical" with ongoing emergency treatment at a secure facility (possibly Peking Union Medical College… — magamanvegas (@magamanvegas) October 11, 2025

What’s Being Claimed: An anonymous "CCP insider" (via exiled former official Du Wen) alleges Xi suffered a sudden, severe stroke in Beijing on October 9, described as "extremely critical" with ongoing emergency treatment at a secure facility (possibly Peking Union Medical College Hospital). Some posts escalate it to a "third" stroke, referencing unproven prior incidents (e.g., a rumored aneurysm in 2022 and a "collapse" at the 2024 plenum). Premier Li Qiang, mid-visit to North Korea, was supposedly ordered back urgently, signaling a leadership crisis just 11 days before the expected 4th Plenum (late October).

Timing and Context: Rumors broke around 7 PM Beijing time (morning US time) on October 9, amplified amid escalating US-China trade tensions (e.g., Trump's tariff threats and China's rare earth export curbs). Speculation ties it to internal CCP power struggles, with figures like Gen. Zhang Youxia allegedly positioning for influence

Capping off the news about China, on Friday morning (that is, yesterday), Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that “very strange things” are happening in China. His long post explains how bizarre China’s new rare earth policy is, the strange timing of its announcement, and his determination to cancel his upcoming meeting with Xi:

[bleach]

100% tariffs will do that.

[SeekAndFind]

The rumors of the stroke were present before the announcement of 100% tariffs.

[HYPOCRACY]

He’s been rumored to be under house arrest for months now. Only showing his face to give the appearance of stability. Shame as he was the absolute worst leader China has had in 30 years. Thank God he was there destroying China while Biden was destroying us.

[Secret Agent Man]

Devil is restructuring his dwindling power base in the Dragon kingdom.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Their one child policy didn’t help. The problem is we have the same thing here with fewer children-only it’s voluntary. 2 kids are the limit and the numbers go down when you figure in the childless cat ladies.

[frank ballenger]

If he’s dead they should strap Xi into a car and ride him around to pretend he’s still alive like Jack Warden in Used Cars (1981).

[HYPOCRACY]

Or Biden.

[bitt]

P

[delta7]

Yeah, and remember the Western MSM said Putin had terminal cancer.

[ckilmer]

The overseas chinese media is where all the rumors inside china hit the sounding board. it makes for very entertaining story telling. and once you get used the wierdness of the way stories float—it all sounds true.

[quantim]

FWIW, saw this the other day:

[fella]

If Xi goes down who will be next at bat?

[Owen]

Suppose this article is entirely worthless and there has been no stroke.

There is one item of value in the text — China has control of Rare Earth Elements and it would take the US 10 yrs to undo that — and they are vital for modern society.

So, why should China be generous with them, rather than cut the deepest and most intense of demands for them? Would not you? The US supplying soybeans to China was to be the counter leverage, and Brazil has erased that.

Bearing in mind the US can create money via QE, China should be demanding non monetary prices for its monopoly. Like disarmament. That is extreme, of course, perhaps something lesser, like reducing US oil consumption and shipping about 10 million bpd to China at a price of $5/barrel.

They have the monopoly. Their demands SHOULD be extreme.

[rexthecat]

Xi is too healthy to have had a stroke. Why did we ever let China dominate the rare earth market? Why are 90% of our antibiotics made in China?

[GOPJ]

It was odd for China to pull the trigger on their ‘rare earth elements’ threat waaaay too early. Very amateurish... let’s hope Xi is ok and back in charge soon.

[Nextrush]

Warmed over Putin health rumors with the name changed.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[bigbob]

52nd state?

[rottweiller_inc]

“There is one item of value in the text — China has control of Rare Earth Elements and it would take the US 10 yrs to undo that — and they are vital for modern society.

So, why should China be generous with them, rather than cut the deepest and most intense of demands for them? Would not you?”

It’s worse than that.
I have no idea why Trump would go around the world talking about the need to arm up for war with China and then expect them to sell the US the critical materials it has but the US doesn’t, but that the US needs to make these weapons they intend to use against China once the military is built back up.
From what I’ve read the Trump admin has been running around to various countries asking what position they would take in a war with China.
Apparently Trump believe the people in China are dumb enough to sell the US the rope they intend to hang China with.