Putin, Xi Hot Mic Moment on Organ Transplants Underscores Concerns Over Organ Harvesting in China

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the conversation adds new urgency for the United States to address forced organ harvesting.

A display shows Chinese leader Xi Jinping (C) walking alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin (center L) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (center R) before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on Sept. 3, 2025. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty Images

As the leaders of China and Russia walked shoulder to shoulder on Sept. 3, a hot mic captured them discussing increasing longevity through organ transplants, possibly extending one’s lifespan to 150 years.

The conversation, livestreamed through Chinese state media to billions online and on television, made international headlines as China watchers scrutinized the implications, with many pointing to longstanding concerns about forced organ harvesting.