Xi Jinping slowly descends plane stairs holding Peng Liyuan’s hand, in footage CCTV did not show

A video of Xi Jinping slowly walking down the stairs of his plane while holding Peng Liyuan’s hand has fueled speculation about the Chinese president’s health in some Taiwanese media and on overseas social media.

The footage, introduced by Taiwan’s SET TV, was filmed on Aug. 30 as Xi arrived at Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. It shows Xi and Peng responding to the welcome ceremony at the aircraft door before descending the stairs together. Xi walks slowly and keeps holding Peng’s hand throughout the descent.

Some commentators suggested that Peng might have been supporting him. But the interpretation rests on the movement shown in the video. No official information confirms that Xi had a health problem or that Peng actually helped him walk.

CCTV’s arrival report showed the couple waving at the aircraft door and then attending the welcome ceremony after they had come down the stairs. It did not show the descent itself. CCTV has not disclosed why that portion was edited, so there is no confirmed basis for saying it was deliberately removed to conceal Xi’s health condition.

Xi visited Kyrgyzstan at President Sadyr Japarov’s invitation to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and make a state visit. It marked his first state visit to the country in seven years and his third visit overall. After completing his Kyrgyzstan schedule, Xi traveled to Egypt for official meetings, including talks with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Chinese authorities have issued no separate statement on the health speculation raised by Taiwanese media.