NEW DELHI, September 4: A fresh debate over Chinese President Xi Jinping’s health and the country’s future leadership has emerged following remarks by former Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) president Lobsang Sangay, who has claimed that Mr. Xi may have suffered two or three heart attacks.

In a recently released ANI Podcast interview, Mr. Sangay said a former senior Chinese official had told him about the alleged health episodes. However, there is no official confirmation or publicly available medical report to substantiate the claim.

Mr. Sangay also alleged that Mr. Xi has been under considerable mental and political pressure and claimed that changes could be noticed in his facial expressions and walking style. He further suggested that the Chinese President may be experiencing what he described as “mental fog” because of health problems, potentially affecting his decision-making.

The former Tibetan political leader linked the alleged pressure on Mr. Xi to recent developments within China’s military and defence establishment. He claimed that the removal of senior military generals and defence officials, as well as the sudden disappearance of some officials from public view, could be connected to the Chinese President’s growing pressure.

Mr. Sangay also raised questions over the issue of succession in China. According to him, Mr. Xi faces a difficult dilemma over naming a successor. A powerful leader who openly designates a successor could potentially create a rival with enough influence to challenge his authority, while failing to designate one could lead to a power struggle after his departure, he argued.

There has been no indication from Chinese authorities that Mr. Xi is suffering from serious health problems. The claims made by Mr. Sangay remain unverified.

Who is Lobsang Sangay?

Lobsang Sangay served as the elected political head, or Sikyong, of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala from 2011 to 2021. A long-time critic of China's policies towards Tibet, he is currently a Senior Visiting Fellow at Harvard Law School.