Xi Jinping’s entrenched control over the Chinese Communist Party, reinforced by the 2018 abolition of presidential term limits and ongoing personnel purges that have sidelined potential rivals, underpins the 97% trader consensus that he will remain in power through the end of 2026. At 73, he continues to chair key meetings, issue directives on security and party discipline, and prepare for the 21st Party Congress in 2027, where analysts anticipate a fourth term rather than any leadership transition. Recent health rumors tied to his September summit with President Trump and minor public absences have not produced verifiable evidence of incapacity or political vulnerability. While a sudden medical event or unforeseen elite backlash could theoretically shift outcomes before the congress convenes, the current absence of organized opposition or institutional mechanisms for removal sustains the market’s strong “no” pricing.