Experts Sure President Xi Jinping Still Holds Control: Social Media Rumor Banks, There Are No Signs Of A Coup

Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - Chinese President Xi Jinping's news of a coup from his position was followed by a number of other news circulating on social media over the weekend.

The news circulated after President Xi was not seen in public, after returning from the Shanghai Cooperation Organizational Summit (SCO) in Uzbekistan on September 15-16. But the credibility of these claims is doubtful, according to experts.

Experts believe this is just false rumors and speculation because there has been no official confirmation from the Chinese Communist Party or state media. There are no credible sources of news.

Reporting from Business Today.in Monday, September 26, the last time President Xi Jinping was seen in public at the SCO Summit. His absence caused news of him being under house arrest.

There is a strong possibility that Chinese leaders are undergoing quarantine following the country's strict 'Nol Covid Policy'.

Based on the policy, every individual who enters China from abroad must undergo quarantine.

"Xi is most likely quarantined after returning from the SCO," Chinese expert Adil Brar tweeted.

Han Zheng yesterday at a meeting. From Xinwen Lianbo. pic.twitter.com/ZMxmk4cFet

— Aadil Brar (@aadilbrar) September 24, 2022

Following the news of the coup, reports emerged of the cancellation of international and domestic commercial flights. Including the cancellation of all trains and buses in recent days.

However, Beijing Capital International Airport website shows that some flights have been canceled, but others are scheduled to be slightly delayed, or have landed.

Related to this, Adil Brar shared flight data and said there were no flight disturbances.

No flights are cancelled anywhere. Look at number of flights in and out of China. pic.twitter.com/zohASE623C

— Aadil Brar (@aadilbrar) September 24, 2022

He also shared a visual briefing by senior Chinese officials, pointing out that the government is functioning normally.

Next, the fact that a number of 'anti-President Xi' individuals were charged with the death penalty and prison, it said there were strong indications he was still in command.

Two former ministers were sentenced to death and four officials were sent to life imprisonment last week in China. According to reports, the six were part of a 'political faction'.

Currently, the Communist Party is running an anti-corruption campaign. It is believed that the six are opponents of President Xi Jinping.

Several Chinese experts also said there were no signs of a coup outside of comments on social media.

Additionally, several regional media such as Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post and The Korea Herald from South Korea, have posted many updates about China in the past 24 hours, but none have been linked to China's coup theory.

Some media have argued the 'coup rumour' somehow originated within China. That's not true. The rumour started within the overseas media. The theory that some military officers were not happy with the potential elevation of Li Qiaoming doesn't hold water. https://t.co/kAMXa1Xr0f

— Aadil Brar (@aadilbrar) September 25, 2022