Xi Jinping’s consolidated authority, reinforced by ongoing elite purges and the absence of any designated successor or visible internal challenge, underpins the 96.2% trader consensus that he will remain in office through the end of 2026. At age 73, he has shown no signs of stepping aside ahead of the 21st Party Congress scheduled for late 2027, where analysts widely expect him to secure a fourth term as General Secretary. Recent diplomatic activity and continued personnel reshuffles further signal continuity rather than transition. While the opaque nature of Chinese elite politics leaves room for sudden shifts, realistic scenarios capable of altering this outlook before 2027 remain limited to unforeseen events such as a serious health crisis or an abrupt elite rupture, both of which lack supporting evidence in current reporting.