Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on August 30 to attend the 2026 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit and make a state visit to the country.
Footage circulating outside Chinese state media has prompted speculation about Xi’s physical condition. Videos appear to show Xi tightly holding his wife Peng Liyuan’s hand as he descended from the aircraft, with Peng seemingly providing support. Other footage reportedly shows Xi coughing repeatedly during the welcoming ceremony, while security personnel quickly intervened when a photographer attempted to approach him. Some observers said the footage showed Xi appearing unsteady or physically strained, although the videos do not establish what, if any, medical condition he may have.
Xi’s health nevertheless attracts unusual attention because the health of China’s top leadership is highly opaque. Any persistent physical changes observed during high-profile overseas appearances can therefore generate speculation, particularly when official media provide limited information about the leader’s health.
Source: NTDTV, September 1, 2026
https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2026/08/31/a104128805.html