Xi Jinping’s entrenched control over the Chinese Communist Party and military, reinforced through ongoing purges of senior PLA figures and loyalty networks, underpins trader consensus that he will remain in office through late 2026. Recent developments, including directives on internal security and party discipline ahead of the 21st Party Congress, signal active governance and preparations for a fourth term rather than transition. Health speculation tied to public appearances has not translated into observable elite challenges or succession moves, consistent with the absence of formal retirement norms or designated heirs. While abrupt medical incapacity or unforeseen factional shifts remain theoretical risks given opaque elite politics, no verifiable indicators point to removal before 2027.