Chinese Leader’s Health May Be Failing

Relatives of Deng Xiaoping have called off trips outside Beijing, a Hong Kong newspaper said Monday in the second such recent report raising questions about the 90-year-old Chinese leader’s health.

The English-language Eastern Express cited unidentified sources as saying Deng’s five children “have all returned to Beijing and canceled trips outside of the capital for at least a month.”

There have been unofficial reports in the last few months that Deng is near death. But China has said that he is in good health for a person his age.

Deng holds no official posts in China but continues to hold power behind the scenes.