The mystery of the Hu Jintao incident

A steward tries to lift Hu Jintao from his seat, but Hu doesn’t want to move. The former Communist party leader is sitting to the left of current boss Xi Jinping, and he reaches out to take Xi’s notes, but Xi moves Hu’s hand away and takes back the papers. The world’s cameras follow every move, as Hu is eventually raised to his feet. There are two stewards now, one holding him firmly under the arm, the other gesturing for him to leave. But Hu is clearly reluctant to go, leaning over and saying something to an impassive-looking Xi, who nods and gives a brief reply to Hu without looking directly at him. Hu then taps the shoulder of Premier Li Keqiang, who is sitting on Xi’s right. Li looks uneasy, turning briefly to watch Hu being ushered from the hall.