Xi Jinping's ongoing military leadership purge, including the September 2026 expulsion of Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and related actions against figures like Liu Zhenli for alleged factionalism, disloyalty, and discipline violations, has fueled speculation about internal PLA tensions. Official statements frame these moves as anti-corruption enforcement rather than responses to organized challenges, with unverified rumors of plots or leaks circulating but lacking confirmation from independent reporting. China's opaque political system, strict information controls, and historical precedent of contained elite conflicts contribute to trader consensus pricing a low implied probability for a qualifying coup attempt by late 2026. Scheduled leadership meetings or further personnel shifts could provide additional signals within the resolution window.