Xi Jinping’s entrenched position as paramount leader, reinforced by ongoing military and party purges that have eliminated potential rivals and installed loyalists, underpins traders’ 97.3% consensus that he will remain in power through the end of 2026. Recent developments, including the October 2026 Central Committee plenum focused on discipline ahead of the 21st Party Congress and Xi’s active role in foreign summits despite unsubstantiated health speculation, show no procedural or political momentum toward an early exit. Preparations emphasize stability and a likely fourth term rather than succession, consistent with his 2022 precedent of extending norms. While abrupt health events or elite fractures remain theoretically possible before 2027, the absence of credible signals or organized opposition sustains the strong market view that such outcomes are improbable in the narrow remaining window.