Xi Jinping's Hands Soft Like Clouds? Chiu: Mainlanders Don't Believe It

Central News Agency Report

(Taipei, April 17, reporter Lu Chia-jung) Media reported that Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wen told U.S. officials that when she shook hands with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) General Secretary Xi Jinping, his hands felt 'soft like clouds.' In response, Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Chairperson Chiu Chui-cheng stated today that U.S. personnel would likely have been quite astonished, and that claims of Xi Jinping being gentle are not even believed by people in mainland China.

Chiu made the remarks during a press briefing before the 17th plenary session of the Interior Committee of the 11th Legislative Yuan's 5th session.

According to media reports, several U.S. officials noted that during a conversation, Cheng described her handshake with Xi Jinping at the 'Cheng-Xi meeting' on April 10, saying his hands were large and sturdy, yet 'soft like clouds.' Cheng reportedly shared with Americans that she had consulted a fortune teller about what kind of person would have such hands, and the fortune teller replied, 'This is the hand of a successful person.'

Chiu said U.S. personnel would likely have been quite taken aback. 'To say Xi Jinping is warm and gentle—people in mainland China don't believe that,' he stated.

Chiu pointed out that Xi Jinping has held power for 14 years. Since 2013, around 7.2 million party, government, and military personnel have been punished under his anti-corruption and strict party discipline campaigns, including 416 senior officials at or above the deputy-ministerial level. He also noted the purges within the military. 'To say he is gentle? Even people in mainland China wouldn't believe it,' Chiu added. (Editor: Chu Chien-ling) 1150617