Hu Jintao death rumor spreads after unverified food‑poisoning claim

On 31 July 2026 a screenshot of a Weibo post, purportedly from Hong Kong‑based media figure Qin Feng, claimed that former Chinese President Hu Jintao, his wife Liu Yongqing and son Hu Haifeng died from food poisoning. The post was rapidly shared on overseas platforms, causing a sharp rise in online searches for Hu Jintao and prompting speculation about a possible power struggle within the Chinese Communist Party ahead of the upcoming Beidaihe meeting and the Fifth Plenum.

Qin Feng later posted a denial, saying the message was fabricated and that her account had been misused. Checks of her verified Weibo account found no such post, and Chinese state media (Xinhua, CCTV) issued no obituary or confirmation. Analysts noted the rumor’s timing – just before senior‑leadership gatherings – and recalled that Qin Feng had previously broken the Jiang Zemin death news before the official announcement, giving her claims a veneer of credibility despite a record of inaccurate reports.

The episode underscores how unverified online claims can quickly generate widespread attention and political speculation, even without any official verification.