Professor Rana Mitter comments on the strange disappearance of Xi Jinping

On 11 September, Rana Mitter appeared on the World at One programme on BBC Radio 4to discuss the strange disappearance from public view of Xi Jinping, the man tipped to be the next President of the Peoples Republic of China.

Theres a choice of either conspiracy or cock-up, Rana said about the rumours circulating about why Mr Xi has cancelled so many high profile appointments with both domestic and foreign figures.

Unlike with Bo Xilai, Rana added, there do not seem to be rumours of anything remotely criminal being the cause of the disappearance, but there are rumours of an awful lot of jockeying for power behind the scenes.

But Rana also suggested there may be a much less sinister reason, such as a combination of health problems and a lack of PR finesse from Mr Xis office. Rana cited the recent example of former President Jiang Zemin, who disappeared from the public eye long enough for many in the media to speculate that he had died, only for him to reappear: alive and well and rather indignant.

The programme can be heard here (Rana appears at around 0:34:40 on the iPlayer).