<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted rumors circulating online that multiple world leaders fell ill at a recent summit in New Delhi, advising the public to disregard what it termed “malicious posts.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The speculation primarily involves the leaders of China and South Africa following their return from the BRICS summit held over the weekend. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office announced on Wednesday that he would be temporarily stepping back from public engagements.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“President Ramaphosa, who returned from the BRICS Summit in India on Monday, has been advised by his medical team to rest and recover,” the statement from his office indicated, noting he was experiencing “ill health.” The South African government did not provide details regarding the nature or cause of Ramaphosa’s illness.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="Ramaphosa and Modi" class="wp-image-4732159" height="682" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AP26255375375927.jpg?w=696" width="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, left, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands during a welcoming ceremony at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This announcement coincided with rumors regarding the health of Chinese paramount leader Xi Jinping, following a brief incident during a speech by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the summit. During the speech, Modi paused and looked towards Xi’s seat, asking if everything was alright with the Chinese delegation.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Chinese delegation attributed the incident to a technological malfunction, stating that Xi’s real-time translation earpiece had briefly stopped working. Xi continued with the meeting without further issues.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Xi later skipped the BRICS gala dinner hosted by Modi and returned to his hotel room to rest, according to anonymous sources cited by the Press Trust of India. He departed India as scheduled on Sunday.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, also reportedly skipped the gala dinner without explanation and returned home after the summit.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Political commentators and public figures have speculated that the incident was more serious than reported, leading to rumors that Xi experienced a medical complication during the trip.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Chinese political dissident Wanjun Xie, residing in the United States and leading the exiled Democracy Party of China, claimed without evidence that Xi “suffered a sudden stroke,” is “currently receiving emergency treatment at Beijing’s 301 Hospital,” and “has not yet escaped life-threatening danger.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On Thursday, Xie asserted that a news video from a Russian outlet, allegedly showing the Chinese delegation adjusting Xi’s earpiece during Modi’s speech, was an “AI-generated and edited video to help the Chinese Communist Party.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Democracy Party was founded in 1998 by former students involved in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and has since operated in exile as an anti-CCP activist organization.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="Xi at BRICS summit in New Delhi" class="wp-image-4732160" height="682" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AP26256253892389.jpg?w=696" width="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a session of the BRICS Plus Outreach format in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These rumors are not unprecedented. Anti-CCP groups often express doubts about Xi’s health, given his consolidation of power within the Chinese government. A significant health issue could lead to instability in the national government.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In response to the global speculation regarding Xi’s health, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a brief statement through its “Fact Check” account on X, stating, “Fake Alert!!! We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms!” This response was triggered by a post from prediction market service Polymarket, which claimed that “multiple world leaders have reportedly fallen ill after attending BRICS summit in India.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Xi has not been seen in public since leaving India on Sunday but is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump next week for a U.S.-China summit.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">China has warned the White House that if the U.S. proceeds with a proposed arms sale to Taiwan, Beijing may cancel the summit.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Trump, when asked on Sunday if he was concerned that Xi might withdraw from the summit, stated he is “not worried about that.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“We have a great relationship. He wants to get along, and we want it,” he told reporters. “We’re going to get along.”</p>