China President Xi Jinping Coughs Heavily During Speech, Spreads Fear

China’s President Xi Jinping violently coughs throughout a speech to Communist party faithful in Shenzhen, prompting speculation on his health, as state media cuts away each time he is forced to stop speaking.

Cameras cut away from the President but he was heard spluttering on audio. Episode promoted his critics to speculate whether he has coronavirus.

The footage was seized upon by Xi's critics, particularly those in Hong Kong, who speculated about his health amid the coronavirus outbreak.