Xi Jinping rumored to be suffering from brain aneurysm: Report
Chinese President Xi Jinping is rumored to be suffering from a brain aneurysm and had to be hospitalized last year. He, however, wants to be treated with traditional medicines rather than undergoing brain surgery, reports said. There have been speculations about Jinping's health condition as he has avoided meeting foreign leaders for almost two years. China hasn't officially issued any statement about his health.
Why does this story matter?
This news comes at a time when several Chinese cities are facing extreme COVID-19 restrictions with entire buildings being sealed off even if only one case has been recorded, while those who test positive are shipped off to horrific quarantine camps. Fears of a coup over Jinping's extreme lockdown measures coupled with a "grave" unemployment situation and economic damage have also been reportedly mounting.
Jinping had a noticeable limp, coughing spree
During Jinping's March 2019 visit to Italy and France, his gait was unusual with a noticeable limp and he needed support while trying to sit down, ANI reported. Later, at a public address in Shenzhen in October 2020, his delayed appearance, slow speech, and coughing spree were noticed. He had also avoided meeting foreign leaders since the COVID-19 outbreak till the Beijing Winter Olympics.
What is brain aneurysm?
It is a ballooning arising from an abnormal focal dilation of an artery in the brain leading to weakening of the vessel which may rupture, Johns Hopkins Medicine Center explains. The disease is also called cerebral aneurysm or intracranial aneurysm. The "blister-like" dilation can become thin and rupture without warning and bleed into the space around the brain causing a hemorrhagic stroke.
What the symptoms of cerebral aneurysm?
Most brain aneurysms have no symptoms and are less than 10 mm in size. However, headaches (rare, if unruptured), eye pain, vision changes, and diminished eye movement are some occasional symptoms. A person may also experience a stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dilated pupils, loss of consciousness, loss of balance or coordination, sensitivity to light, and back or leg pain.
China worked to export traditional medicine options
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic over two years ago, China was working on exporting traditional medicine options to treat the deadly respiratory illness. Moreover, Jinping was one of the campaign's leading advocates, a Daily Mail report said.
Rumors about Jinping stepping down doing the rounds
A recent meeting of the Politburo Standing Committee—the collective leadership group that rules China—reportedly fueled rumors about Jinping stepping down. Moreover, according to a Canada-based blogger, whose video was censored by China, Jinping would be forced to step aside from the Chinese Communist Party, perhaps in the second half of 2022. Li Keqiang, the current premier of China, will reportedly replace Jinping.
Manufacturing activity reached its lowest since February 2020
According to the aforementioned blogger, Jinping has ordered to "resolutely fight" those questioning China's strict "zero COVID-19 policy." However, extreme measures have hampered the economy. A top Chinese official said, "The pandemic is a 'stumbling block' for economic and social development." Strict restrictions also put a stop to industrial production and manufacturing activity witnessed a steady drop, falling to the lowest since February 2020.
Lockdown measures met with dissent on social media
The lockdown measures are being met with dissent on social media with an estimated 180M people locked down despite low infections. Draconian measures in Shanghai include children asked to go to school in hazmat suits and diners trapped inside restaurants. "This is so disrespectful of the rights of the people inside, using metal barriers to enclose them like domestic animals," said one Weibo user.
