Rumors about the health of Chinese President Xi Jinping have resurfaced after he returned to China quickly from India, where he attended the 18th BRICS summit. Mr. Xi, who had not visited India in seven years, arrived for the summit but left before other world leaders, on September 13. He has not been seen in public since his return, which has fueled speculation about his well-being. During the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen checking on Mr. Xi during his speech, prompting questions about the Chinese leader's condition. The situation gained more attention when Chinese journalists posted a video on X, a social media platform banned in China, suggesting that Mr. Modi was reacting to a faulty earpiece used for translation, not to any health issue. The Chinese foreign ministry stated that Mr. Xi left Delhi after "successfully concluding" his participation in the summit, which lasted only about 24 hours. This departure timeline has led to questions about whether the visit was as planned. Speculation about Mr. Xi's health intensified after a post by Xie Wanjun, chair of the unregistered China Democracy Party, claimed that Mr. Xi fainted during the summit and was flown back to China for emergency treatment. Xie alleged that the president suffered a severe ischemic stroke and was taken to the Beijing 301 Hospital. He described Mr. Xi as walking with difficulty and leaning to the left when boarding the plane. These claims have been widely shared, although they remain unverified. The rumors have sparked discussions among analysts and journalists, with some suggesting that they could become political tools. Gordon Chang, a political analyst, stated that "China could not hide his condition" this time. Meanwhile, the potential impact of these rumors on Mr. Xi's planned visit to the United States for a meeting with President Donald Trump on September 24 has raised concerns. Additionally, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who attended the BRICS dinner, fell ill after returning from the summit and has since been advised to rest. In India, opposition parties criticized Mr. Modi for serving a vegetarian dinner, which they said overlooked the country's cultural diversity.