Spanish Prime Minister's Urgent Visit to China: Why Was He Disrespected by the CCP?

Image: During the March 2024 Two Sessions, Xi Jinping was photographed by foreign media in the Great Hall of the People with an expression of extreme pain while drinking tea. (Illustration by Qing Yu/People News)

[People News] Following a meeting with Zheng Liwen, the Chairperson of the Kuomintang, on April 10, CCP leader Xi Jinping reappeared on the morning of April 14 to meet with both Crown Prince Khalid of Abu Dhabi and Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez, who were visiting China. The duration of these meetings was likely brief. On April 13, CCP Premier Li Qiang met with Khalid, while Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People's Congress, met with Sanchez on the afternoon of the 14th. Additionally, on the same day, Nguyen Phu Trong, the visiting General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, was scheduled to visit Xiong'an.

What is unusual about this situation? Typically, the dates and itineraries for foreign leaders' visits are prearranged. Khalid's visit to China spanned two days, April 13 and 14; according to the announcement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 8, Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez's visit was set for April 11 to 15. Clearly, based on the established schedule, Xi Jinping was expected to meet with both leaders.

For Sanchez, who faced backlash from U.S. President Trump for denying the use of Spanish military bases by U.S. forces during operations against Iran, and was even threatened with a potential trade cut-off between the U.S. and Spain, his urgent visit to China likely aimed to garner more support from the CCP.

Reports from the Chinese Communist Party's official media reveal Sanchez's perspective. He remarked, 'Chinese enterprises' investment and cooperation in the West have significantly boosted the economic development of the West,' and emphasized that 'Spain places great importance on China's status as a major power and is firmly committed to developing a strategically stable partnership with China, aiming to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, new energy, and other areas...'.

This marks Sanchez's fourth visit to China in four years. For the Chinese Communist Party, which is currently facing intense pressure from the United States and growing estrangement from several EU nations, Sanchez's return as the Prime Minister of an EU member state has allowed the CCP to regain some credibility on the international stage. Following Xi's commendation of Sino-Spanish relations, he also made commitments, stating, 'We will strengthen cooperation in trade, new energy, smart economy, and other sectors, encourage exchanges in culture, education, scientific research, and sports, and work towards achieving more outcomes in the comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries.' 

However, it is peculiar that Sanchez arrived in Beijing on April 11, did not meet with Xi Jinping until the 14th, and could only meet with Li Qiang on the day of his departure, the 15th. On the 12th, Sanchez was spotted at the Drum Tower, the Summer Palace, and Shichahai, and on the 13th, he delivered a speech at Tsinghua University and was awarded the title of honorary professor by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

It is quite unusual for a Prime Minister to prioritise sightseeing over official engagements during a visit, which is also considered quite impolite by the CCP. The standard protocol would typically involve meeting with national leaders first before participating in other activities.

Let’s examine the arrangements for Sánchez's past three visits to China. From April 10 to 11, 2025, Sánchez visited China, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the Communist Party of China and Spain, with both the King and Prime Minister of Spain present. During this visit, Xi Jinping and Li Qiang met with him separately. At that time, both sides released an action plan aimed at strengthening their comprehensive strategic partnership, which outlined a roadmap for cooperation over the next four years. Sánchez also highlighted that China is a key partner for the European Union, and Spain has consistently supported the stable development of EU-China relations, opposing unilateral tariff increases. Statistics indicate that the bilateral trade volume between China and Spain surpassed $55 billion in 2025, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 9.8%. 

Notably, Xi met with Sánchez at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on the morning of April 11, while Li Qiang met with him at the Great Hall of the People later that afternoon. 

In 2024, Sánchez's visit to China was scheduled from September 8 to 11. On the morning of September 9, Li Qiang met with Sánchez at the Great Hall of the People, followed by a meeting with Xi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in the afternoon. 

In 2023, Sánchez's first visit occurred from March 30 to 31. On the morning of the 31st, Li Qiang held discussions with Sánchez at the Great Hall of the People, and in the afternoon, Xi also met with him, once again at the Great Hall of the People.

In other words, during the first three visits, Xi Jinping and other senior officials of the Communist Party of China met with Sanchez the day after his arrival, which is the standard protocol for foreign visits. However, on the second day following Sanchez's arrival, he was scheduled to wander around, suggesting that Xi may have faced an unexpected situation; otherwise, it would be unlikely for him to avoid making a public appearance.

In fact, during his meeting with Zheng Liwen on the 10th, Xi Jinping displayed clear signs of memory decline and cognitive difficulties, needing to frequently consult his notes to remember what he was supposed to say, and he even struggled to deliver a simple welcome speech smoothly. The author previously suggested that this could be a consequence of Xi's stroke, and such aftereffects are challenging to recover from. Between the 10th and the 14th, it is quite possible that Xi underwent further treatment, which temporarily stabilised his condition.

Additionally, according to the Communist Party's statements, the Great Hall of the People primarily hosts significant national political meetings and large-scale public events, making foreign affairs activities here appear more formal and dignified. In contrast, the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse is known as the 'national living room of Chinese diplomacy,' where meetings can foster a more relaxed and private atmosphere that is conducive to deeper communication, allowing leaders to take walks together.

The Chinese Communist Party has scheduled meetings between Xi Jinping and Sanchez at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in 2024 and 2025 to emphasise the close ties between the two nations. At that time, state media showcased images of Xi and Sanchez walking and discussing together. However, the recent meeting took place at the Great Hall of the People, following a meeting with Crown Prince Khalid. A plausible explanation for this change is that it was intended to minimise Xi Jinping's activity time and prevent any further incidents. A meeting at Diaoyutai would not only require a car ride but also involve walking within the venue, which could worsen his health condition.

It is clear that the Chinese Communist Party has likely communicated privately with Spain and even the Vietnamese Communist Party to cover up Xi's health issues, possibly making additional commitments, which resulted in the adjustments to the diplomatic meeting schedule. Nevertheless, no matter how much the CCP attempts to conceal the situation, Xi's health is unlikely to improve. If there comes a day when it can no longer be hidden, what will the CCP do then?

(First published by People News) △