Over the past few weeks, an unusual silence from China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, has sparked a wave of speculation across the world. Questions like “Is Xi Jinping missing?” have flooded social media platforms and discussion forums after the Chinese President failed to appear at the BRICS summit in Brazil on July 6–7 — a major global event where his presence was expected. Instead, Chinese Premier Li Qiang represented the country, citing "scheduling conflicts" as the official reason for Xi’s absence.
Photo : Collected
For many observers, this explanation felt vague. In a country like China, where leadership optics are carefully managed and symbolic appearances matter greatly, Xi skipping such a summit raised eyebrows.
Adding to the mystery, Xi hasn't been seen in any live public appearances since June 24, when he met with Singapore’s Prime Minister. State media did release photos of him on July 7, allegedly showing him at a wreath-laying ceremony, but the images were oddly cropped — lacking the usual public presence or broader media coverage that typically accompanies his outings.
This brief disappearance might seem strange, but it isn’t without precedent. In China’s tightly controlled political system, top leaders often step away from the spotlight during sensitive periods — whether it’s for internal Communist Party meetings, health matters, or major strategic decision-making.
Several analysts suggest that there is no hard evidence to support claims of a political crisis or health emergency. Xi Jinping has kept a full international schedule in recent months. He visited Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia in April and joined Russia's Victory Day parade in Moscow in May — clearly signaling that he’s still actively involved in high-level diplomacy.
At the same time, Xi has been overseeing major crackdowns within China's government and military in recent years, including purging officials accused of corruption and disloyalty. Such political tightening often brings increased secrecy — and can result in temporary disappearances, both of others and, sometimes, of Xi himself from public view.
So, is Xi Jinping really “missing”? Most likely not. But his prolonged absence and silence, especially during a time of rising global tension and internal economic pressures, are unusual enough to raise questions. In a nation where the top leader rarely disappears without reason, even a short pause in public activity becomes a topic of global interest.
As of now, there’s no official indication that anything is wrong behind the scenes. Still, in today’s fast-moving news cycle — especially in a world increasingly watching China’s every move — even a few weeks without Xi can make headlines.
Capital Insider will keep following this story and provide verified updates as they come in.