Xi Jinping suffering from cerebral aneurysm

Chinese President Xi Jinping is suffering from “cerebral aneurysm” and had to be hospitalized at the end of 2021, media reports said. He would prefer traditional Chinese medicines to surgery. The traditional medicine reportedly softens the blood vessels and shrinks aneurysm.

Of late, there have been speculations about his health as he had avoided meeting the foreign leaders since the outbreak of Covid-19 till the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Earlier in March 2019, when Xi Jinping was in Italy — one of the earliest countries to be devastated by the China-origin Covid-19 pandemic — his gait was observed to be unusual with a noticeable limp and later also in France during the same tour, he was seen taking support while trying to sit down.

Again, during an address to the public in Shenzhen in October 2020, his delay in appearance, slow speech and coughing spree again led to speculation about his ill health.

These reports come at a time when China’s economy is experiencing a lot of strain due to oil and gas price hikes and disruption to the supply chain caused by the Ukraine conflict, and strict implementation of the zero-Covid policy.

With the Chinese president eyeing a historic third term after having ensured he occupies the office till he is alive, the country, in a tactical move, has decided to temporarily suspend focusing on “common prosperity”, slapping penalties on tech behemoths, and instead is scurrying to stabilize the economy, which is under a lot of stress.

In the run-up to the forthcoming 20th Party Congress, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is tactically moving away from its “common prosperity” policy as with the economic slowdown the country does not want to become a less attractive market for investors, as per reports.

As Xi prepares to get re-elected for a third five-year term later this year, he has attempted to portray China as more prosperous, influential, and stable under his rule.

Officials in China, who till a few months ago were ferociously advertising a new era of “Common Prosperity” slapping penalties on tech behemoths and wealthy celebrities, have moved their gaze towards keeping the economy stable and growing, for now.

With inputs from ANI