Speculation Mounts Over Xi Jinping’s Health After Short Tibet Visit

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China’s President cut short his trip to Lhasa, fueling rumors about his health at a politically sensitive time for Beijing.

By TRH Global Affairs Desk

NEW DELHI, August 23, 2025 —Speculation over the health of Chinese President Xi Jinping has intensified after his unusually brief visit to Lhasa in Tibet this week. Xi, who has not travelled outside Beijing frequently in recent months, was scheduled for a two-day inspection but wrapped up his engagements in under 12 hours, according to people familiar with the matter.

State media gave sparse coverage of the visit, releasing heavily edited footage of Xi meeting local officials and briefly addressing a crowd. Observers noted the President appeared visibly fatigued, with a shorter-than-usual speech and limited interaction with the public. No explanation was offered for the abrupt curtailment of his itinerary.

The secrecy surrounding Xi’s health has long stoked speculation, given the absence of transparency in China’s political system. Analysts point out that any questions over his well-being could have wider implications, especially as he consolidates power ahead of next year’s Party Congress and navigates economic headwinds, US tariffs, and unrest in several Chinese provinces.

Tibet, a sensitive region for Beijing due to recurring tensions over autonomy and religious freedoms, was seen as a symbolic choice for Xi’s rare visit. However, the shortened trip has only heightened uncertainty, with rumours circulating on Chinese social media before being swiftly censored.

While the Chinese government has made no official comment, diplomatic observers say Xi’s health remains a closely guarded state secret, and the latest episode is likely to prompt further scrutiny from both domestic and international audiences.

Aadil Brar in Asia Communique, writing on the visit, said: “Chinese President Xi Jinping made a highly symbolic trip to the Tibetan Autonomous Region on August 20, his first since 2021 and only the second visit by a Chinese leader in decades.” He added that Xi commemorated the 60th anniversary of the founding of the region by stressing the Communist Party’s priorities of political stability and ethnic unity.

The China observer also quoted Xi, saying that “Tibetan Buddhism must adapt to China’s socialist system and reiterated the importance of strengthening ethnic unity, safeguarding national security and social stability.”

Incidentally, Xi’s Lhasa visit came within weeks of 14^th Dalai Lama celebrating his 90^th birthday in Dharamshala during which he said that he would incarnate. The Buddhist spiritual leader also asserted that he would leave for another two and a half decades.

“Xi also called for vigorous pursuit of a large hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River, underlining Tibet’s strategic role in China’s water and energy ambitions,” added Brar in his note.

He argued that “Xi Jinping’s trip signals that Beijing wants to keep a tight narrative control after the passing of the current Dalai Lama and during the selection process of the next Tibetan spiritual leader.”