BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese spokesman today said he had no information about the status of leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping, who dropped from sight 10 days ago and has canceled a series of meetings with foreign visitors.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said he had “no information in this regard” when asked about Xi’s condition and whereabouts at a news conference today.

Asked whether Xi was still alive, Hong replied: “I hope you can ask more serious questions.”

Xi’s absence — and the complete lack of information from the government — has sent the Chinese rumor mill into overdrive, with most speculation focusing on a health crisis ranging from a sore back to a stroke. Some of the more fanciful tales involve a staged car crash as part of a political feud, although no evidence has been offered to back that up and the overseas website that had that report later backed away from it.

The 59-year-old Xi is China’s vice president and was picked five years ago to succeed President Hu Jintao. Xi is due to take over as head of the ruling Communist Party at a congress later this year, although no date for it has been announced yet.

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