Xi Jinping’s entrenched authority, reinforced by repeated purges of military and party elites plus the 2018 removal of presidential term limits, underpins trader expectations that he will remain in office through 2026. With the 21st Party Congress scheduled for late 2027 positioned to grant him a fourth term as general secretary, analysts see no active succession process or visible internal challenge capable of forcing an earlier exit. Recent footage from his August 2026 Central Asia trip sparked limited health speculation, yet official activities and personnel decisions continue without interruption. While an abrupt medical event or unforeseen elite realignment could theoretically alter the timeline, the absence of organized opposition or institutional pressure sustains the strong consensus reflected in current pricing.