China: Presidential Succession Amid Crisis

Rumors continue to circulate regarding the status of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who is set to become China's next president and leader of the Communist Party of China. Xi has missed four meetings since Sept. 1, the last time he was seen in public. Some rumors suggest Xi is simply busy preparing for the leadership transition, while others suggest he was injured while swimming or playing soccer. The more ominous rumors claim he has been assassinated or that he has suffered a stroke.

Such rumors are not unusual in China, nor is the extended absence of a public figure. Xi may very well reappear in public at any moment, ending the mounting speculation of an impending crisis. But the timing of the rumors just before the party congress that will begin Xi's transition to the paramount Chinese leadership post raises significant question about the continuity of the Chinese political system.