Claims have emerged that Chinese President Xi Jinping, widely expected to secure a fourth consecutive term next year, is aging more severely than the average person.

According to Taiwanese media, Tsai Wen-hsuan, a research fellow at the Institute of Political Science at Academia Sinica—a think tank directly under the Office of the President of Taiwan—made the remarks during a symposium on the direction of China, domestic political changes following the 5th Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, cross-strait relations, and the international situation.

Researcher Tsai stated that the scene of President Xi descending from his official aircraft during his visit to India in September holds significant research value, arguing that his walking stability this year has dropped compared to 2023.

He also noted that when walking down the stairs, President Xi exhibited a circumductoid gait, walking abnormally by swinging his leg outward in a semi-circle.

Furthermore, he stated that a potential decrease in President Xi's calf muscle mass was observed in footage of him boarding the aircraft.

This is not the first time rumors regarding President Xi's health have been raised.

The Wall Street Journal reported in September that during the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Xi, the Chinese side requested an unusual break, raising questions over whether his health is not what it used to be.

During his visit to Kyrgyzstan in August, footage circulated online showing President Xi slowly descending the aircraft stairs while holding the hand of his wife, Peng Liyuan.

Experts analyzed that while President Xi is not showing cognitive abnormalities such as declining brain function, power remains overly concentrated on him without a designated successor, meaning his health variables could create ripples in future political landscapes.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Lee Da-in | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News