Xi Jinping's Declining Memory is Evident; CCTV Broadcast Deliberately Conceals It

Xi Jinping. (People News)

[People News] On April 10, Xi Jinping met with a delegation from the Kuomintang led by Chairperson Zheng Liwen at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Zheng's flattering remarks towards Xi, along with the abrupt interruption of the live broadcast during Zheng's speech by the Chinese Communist Party, which directly humiliated Zheng Liwen in front of the media, have garnered significant attention. What stood out to me was Xi's 'abnormality' during the meeting.

According to the live broadcast, Xi Jinping clearly displayed signs of memory decline during his speech, nearly reading word for word.

For example, during his opening remarks, after saying 'Chairperson Zheng Liwen,' he immediately looked down at his notes, then stated 'fellow compatriots and friends of the Kuomintang delegation,' looked down again, raised his head to say 'hello everyone,' looked down once more to say 'very happy,' and then looked down again to say 'to meet everyone in this beautiful spring season.' Such a simple opening statement saw Xi looking down multiple times, which starkly contrasts with his earlier confident and fluent delivery without notes. Isn't this clearly problematic?

Perhaps in an attempt to lighten the mood, Xi Jinping temporarily set aside his notes and improvised, saying, 'Yesterday was still the Qingming Festival with rain, today is a sunny day.' Cai Qi, who was beside him, displayed a pleased smile and nodded frequently when Xi delivered the previous somewhat sophisticated phrase, but when Xi concluded with the dry and clearly grammatically incorrect latter half of the sentence, Cai Qi's smile vanished. A phrase like 'a sunny day' with such grammatical errors would not typically be spoken by an ordinary CCP official in public, would it?

Following a minor slip in his speech, Xi Jinping immediately looked down at his notes, then looked up and repeated, 'I am very happy to meet everyone.' Is this the standard expected of the leader of the Communist Party of China?

Interestingly, after reciting from his script, Xi stated, 'After ten years, this is the meeting of the leaders of our two parties again,' and then unexpectedly asked a rather foolish question, 'Who was here last time?' Xi was referring to the person he met with in Beijing a decade ago. On November 1, 2016, also at the Great Hall of the People, Xi Jinping met with Hung Hsiu-chu, who was then the chairman of the Kuomintang.

It is quite peculiar that Xi, who is very focused on Taiwan and hopes to achieve reunification during his term, forgot the individual he met with ten years ago. Some might argue that Xi is preoccupied with numerous affairs and cannot remember so many names. While that may be true, if he had prepared in advance, he would not have forgotten the various Kuomintang chairpersons he had met. His forgetfulness not only suggests a lack of concern but also raises the possibility of cognitive decline.

Since news of Xi's stroke surfaced after the third plenary session of the Communist Party in July 2024, there have been ongoing rumours for over a year about him potentially suffering another stroke once or twice. The aftereffects of a stroke can include memory loss, speech difficulties, and diminished cognitive function.

Memory loss following a stroke is categorised as post-stroke cognitive dysfunction, affecting approximately 30%-50% of patients. This condition is typically caused by significant damage to brain neurons and abnormal blood circulation, often presenting as decreased short-term memory, lack of focus, or sluggish responses. Xi's memory issues and slow reactions are clear indicators of post-stroke effects.

Last year, a video captured on December 4 showed Xi Jinping and his wife waiting for French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. During the wait, Xi appeared somewhat anxious, asking two questions in quick succession: 'Is the cannon salute happening outside?' and 'Is there a cannon salute?' A staff member nearby replied, 'Yes, at Tiananmen, the salute will start as soon as they get out of the car.'

These questions are quite peculiar. As the leader of the Communist Party of China who has participated in hundreds of welcoming ceremonies for foreign leaders over the past decade, it is surprising that Xi is unsure about whether there would be a cannon salute for Macron and whether there is indeed a salute occurring outside. Does this suggest that, in addition to concerns about losing power, Xi may also be facing cognitive and memory challenges?

As for the two seemingly foolish questions Xi asked while waiting for Macron, it is certain that CCTV will not cover them. So, how did CCTV address the situation where Xi frequently looked down at his notes during his meeting with Zheng Liwen? Clearly, in the news broadcast, mainland viewers primarily saw footage of Xi speaking with his head held high. The editing technique involved not only deliberate cuts but also ensured that close-up shots lasted no more than three seconds before switching to other individuals. Shots that exceeded three seconds were taken from a distance, making it difficult to detect any signs of Xi's memory decline.

In Xi Jinping's (Xi Jinping) interactions with foreign dignitaries, he often relies on a small notebook, reading from it frequently. CCTV footage has been noted for deliberately obscuring signs of Xi's unsteady gait and the original audio of his speech. While the aftereffects of his stroke may not be overtly apparent, they are still present and have affected his memory, cognition, and other areas. This is likely well understood among the senior leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The ongoing power struggles within the CPC's upper ranks may be connected to this situation. If Xi were to experience another stroke, what consequences might that bring?

(First published in People News)△