Xi and Putin in Their 70s Caught on Hot Mic Discussing "150-Year Lifespan and Organ Transplants"

Casual Talk on Longevity and Immortality at Victory Day Event
NYT: "Leaders Demonstrate Their Will to Remain in Power"
Putin's Strong Desire for Longevity Highlighted

The casual conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, both now in their seventies, about "longevity and organ transplantation" was captured live during Beijing's Victory Day celebrations. The two leaders, who are of the same age group, have both maintained their grip on power for over a decade and have consistently demonstrated their intention to remain in power for a long time.

UPI Yonhap News

The New York Times and Reuters reported on September 3 (local time) that the conversation between President Xi and President Putin was caught on a "hot mic." A "hot mic" refers to a situation where private conversations or jokes are unintentionally broadcast because the speakers are unaware that the microphone is still on during an official event.

On the live broadcast by Chinese state-run CCTV, the voices of the two leaders were clearly heard as they headed toward the Tiananmen Gate. Tiananmen, once the entrance to the imperial palace, is also known as the "Gate of Heavenly Peace."

President Xi remarked, "In the past, it was rare for people to live to 70, but nowadays, 70 is still considered young." In response, President Putin said, "With advances in biotechnology, it may soon be possible to achieve immortality through organ transplants." President Xi replied, "Some even predict that humans could live to 150 within this century."

The New York Times analyzed, "The so-called hot mic moment from the military parade shows how advances in medicine are intertwined with geopolitical contexts," adding, "Both leaders are 72 years old and have signaled their intention to remain in power for a long time."

President Putin has shown a deep interest in longevity, making the extension of life expectancy a core task for the Ministry of Health. Last year, Russia's state-owned nuclear company Rosatom announced it was developing technology to 'print' human organs.

Some interpret the desire for longevity as being closely linked to long-term rule. President Putin amended the constitution in 2020, allowing him to remain in power until 2036; if he does so, he will be 83 years old. President Xi has also made his intention for long-term rule clear by not naming a successor.

While President Xi has not publicly expressed an interest in longevity as openly as President Putin, The New York Times noted that his efforts to extend his rule place him in the same context, as he would also need to live longer to maintain power.