Xi Jinping’s entrenched control over the Chinese Communist Party and military underpins the 97% trader consensus against removal before 2027. At age 73 he continues public duties, including a recent U.S. summit, while recurring health speculation has produced no verified impairment or leadership vacuum. Ongoing purges of senior PLA figures, including close associates, have further centralized authority rather than signaling weakness. The 21st Party Congress expected in late 2027 is widely viewed as the venue for a probable fourth term, consistent with Xi’s prior norm-breaking extensions and absence of a designated successor. Realistic shifts would require an acute health event, elite revolt, or sudden institutional challenge—developments that have not materialized despite repeated rumors.