On Twitter, President Xi Jinping became one of the most popular trending topics due to unfounded rumours that he is being held at home and that a military coup is taking place in China.
Xi and the hashtag #ChinaCoup became popular on social media when tens of thousands of users spread false allegations that the president had been kidnapped and deposed by the People’s Liberation Army of China.
This theory, which has not been supported by any credible sources, emerged as a result of the Saturday’s sparse business aviation above Beijing’s capital city and unconfirmed reports that all trains and buses are also being cancelled out of Beijing.
Although the website for Beijing Capital Airport indicates that some departures from China’s capital have been cancelled, many more planes are still planned or have already landed. There have also been reports that the fighting were postponed because of an intentional navy exercise.
Photographs by Sergei BOBYLYOV/SPUTNIK/AFP/Getty Images
According to reports, a line of military vehicles up to 80 kilometres long was seen moving into Beijing on September 22 amid reports of a navy coup in a widely circulated video uploaded on Twitter.
However, because the video is under a minute long, it is impossible to tell if the route of military vehicles is 80 kilometres long. It is unknown whether the convoy is making its way into Beijing as part of a navy coup or when or where it was shot.
Subramanian Swamy, an Indian politician with 10 million followers, tweeted on Saturday, “New rumours to be checked out: Is Xi Jingping [sic] under home arrest in Beijing? The leaders of the Chinese Communist Party are said to have fired Xi from his position as the Party’s head of the military when he was recently in Samarkand. Next, home arrest became legal. According to rumour,
Drew Thompson, a former Division of Protection representative for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, calls the claims “complete fiction” in a series of tweets.
Given the fragile political climate in China and the ongoing trials (and convictions) of long-serving senior officials, Thompson writes, “The rumour that Xi Jinping has been detained has legs.”
“Open discussion by Xi’s detractors makes the rumours credible. The idea that Xi confronts internal resistance endures despite the lack of evidence. This makes the rumour that Xi will be arrested more likely, or at least more hopeful for some.
In addition, rida Ghitis, a journalist for the international affairs section and a former CNN correspondent, questioned the “wild allegations” coming from China.
“Claims that there was a coup in China and that Xi Jinping should be placed under house arrest are circulating on social media. However, there is no evidence to support that.
President Xi recently attended the leaders’ meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
On September 16, 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping will be in Samarkand for the leaders’ summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Photographs by Sergei BOBYLYOV/SPUTNIK/AFP/Getty
A line of military trucks up to 80 kilometres long is reportedly seen moving into Beijing in a widely circulated footage that was released on Twitter on September 22 amid allegations of a military coup.
The footage, which is less than a minute long, does not reveal if the line of military vehicles is 80 kilometres long. It is unknown whether the convoy is making its way to Beijing as part of a military coup, nor is it known when or where it was recorded.
Subramanian Swamy, an Indian politician with 10 million followers, also contributed to the story by tweeting on Saturday, “New rumour to check: Is Xi Jingping [sic] under house arrest in Beijing? Chinese Communist Party authorities were alleged to have ousted Xi from the Army in control of the Party when he was recently in Samarkand. Home confinement came next. According to the report, that is.
Former Defense Department employee Drew Thompson, who hails from China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, calls the claims “total fiction” in a string of tweets.
Because of the current highly charged political climate in China and the recent trials (and convictions) of high-ranking long-serving officials, Thompson writes, “The rumour that Xi Jinping has been jailed is well grounded.”
“The reports are credible since opposition to Xi is openly discussed. Even while there is no proof that Xi is up against domestic opposition, rumours abound. This makes the rumour that Xi will be arrested more likely, or at least more likely in some people’s eyes.
Former CNN journalist and current international affairs columnist Frida Ghitis also brushed aside “wild rumours” originating from China.
“There are several allegations that Xi Jinping is under house arrest and that there has been a coup in China on social media. However, there is no proof to support this.
President Xi recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders’ conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
‘Bonkers rumor’, cries internet
But the news quickly spread on social media platforms because some people shared memes and tweets labelling it phoney while others shared the news with a distinct sense of humour. One person responded to the news by writing, “A completely insane rumour claims that Xi Jinping was detained during a coup. Although it’s probably false, one may always hope.”