Xi Jinping’s entrenched control over the Chinese Communist Party, reinforced by extensive purges of military and civilian elites and the absence of any visible rival faction, underpins the 95.3% trader consensus that he remains in office through 2027. Preparations for the 21st Party Congress, including an October 2026 plenum focused on discipline and loyalty, signal continuity rather than transition, with Xi expected to secure a fourth term and defer succession questions. The informal retirement norms applied to others have not constrained him, and recent reporting shows no erosion of his authority. Still, an unforeseen health event, major external crisis, or abrupt elite realignment could alter the outlook before the congress convenes.