September 28, 2022
2 mins read

Xi’s public appearance ends coup rumours

Xi had not been seen in public since returning to Beijing from the summit on September 16…reports Asian Lite News

Chinese President Xi Jinping has made his first public appearance since returning from a trip to Uzbekistan where he attended the 22nd SCO Summit, quashing unfounded rumoUrs of a “coup” that sparked a frenzy of speculation ahead of a key Communist Party meeting.

Xi on Tuesday visited an exhibition in Beijing showcasing China’s achievements over his decade in power, CNN reported citing the state broadcaster CCTV.

On the network’s flagship evening newscast, the President was seen wearing a face mask and viewing displays at the Beijing Exhibition Hall, where photos of himself featured heavily.

He was accompanied by Premier Li Keqiang and other top leaders, including all members of the party’s supreme Politburo Standing Committee, CNN reported.

Xi had not been seen in public since returning to Beijing from the summit on September 16.

The visit was his first foreign trip in nearly 1,000 days since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

His absence gave rise to a swirl of online rumours, which claimed, without evidence, that he had been overthrown in a military coup and placed under house arrest, CNN reported.

The unsubstantiated rumours were further fueled by claims of mass flight cancellations, a common occurrence under China’s zero-Covid restrictions, and unverified videos of military vehicles on the road.

The wild speculation, which originated from Chinese dissident networks before being picked up and amplified by Indian media, was so intense that the hashtag “chinacoup” was trending on Twitter over the weekend.

That the rumour was able to spread so quickly is in no small part due to the highly opaque nature of the Chinese political system, in which important decisions are mostly made behind closed doors.

The absence of information means that even veteran observers of elite Chinese politics maintain a “never say never” approach, noting that while an occurrence such as a coup remains highly improbable, it’s impossible to know for sure what is really going on.

On this occasion, most were quick to point to the total lack of credible evidence supporting the supposed ‘coup’, CNN reported.

Instead, they noted that Xi was likely following his own quarantine rules and remaining in self-isolation after returning from abroad.

Even as the rest of the world has learned to live with the virus, China is sticking to a stringent zero-Covid policy favoured by Xi.

The Chinese border is still largely closed, with all international arrivals required to undergo seven days of hotel quarantine, followed by three days of home isolation.

ALSO READ: China’s penchant for nuclear modernisation ambitions

Previous Story

UN Women backs women’s right in Iran

Next Story

Ishaq Dar becomes Pakistan’s new Finance Minister

Latest from -Top News

UN urges restraint in Pak-Afghan clashes

Bennett’s statement came after Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said that 12 Afghan civilians were killed and over 100 others injured in recent attacks…reports Asian Lite News UN Special Rapporteur on human rights

Pakistan-Afghanistan border Attack kills 12

Mujahid said that multiple Pakistani soldiers were killed in retaliatory action by Afghan forces…reports Asian Lite News At least 12 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a Pakistani military

India, UK military conduct joint exercise

The exercise also reaffirmed the shared commitment of India and the United Kingdom towards maintaining regional peace, security, and stability. The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a joint exercise with the United

16 dead in Dhaka factory fire

The death toll in the blaze is likely to rise, warned another fire official, who did not want to be named….reports Asian Lite News At least 16 people have died after a

India wins unopposed seat on UNHRC

India last served on the HRC in 2024, completing a second consecutive term….reports Asian Lite News India has been elected unopposed to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the seventh time,
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Xi to attend BRICS Summit

Xi Jinping to Join 15th BRICS Summit, Embark on South

China breaches Taiwan air defence zone for 4th time in a week

In response, Taiwan sent aircraft, broadcast radio warnings, and had