Xi Jinping’s consolidated authority within the Chinese Communist Party, reinforced by recent military leadership purges and a focus on internal security ahead of the 2027 Party Congress, underpins the 97.3% trader consensus that he will remain in office through the end of 2026. At 73, he shows no public signs of stepping aside, has not designated a successor, and continues to shape elite networks and institutional rules to maintain one-man dominance rather than enable transition. The short window before 2027 leaves little room for shifts absent unforeseen events. Realistic scenarios that could still move the market include a sudden health crisis or abrupt elite realignment, though current indicators point to continuity in leadership selection processes.