Xi Jinping’s entrenched control over the Chinese Communist Party apparatus, military command, and key institutions drives the near-certain trader consensus that he will remain in power through the end of 2026. The next scheduled leadership event—the 21st Party Congress—lies in late 2027, with no intervening formal vote, term expiration, or constitutional mechanism available to remove the general secretary. Ongoing high-level purges of military officers and Politburo figures through 2026 have further consolidated his authority by eliminating potential rivals rather than signaling vulnerability. While unverified health rumors and elite maneuvering occasionally surface, they lack confirmed impact on his position. Sudden incapacity, a coordinated internal challenge, or unforeseen external shocks remain the primary low-probability routes that could still shift outcomes before the congress convenes.