Xi Jinping’s consolidated authority through repeated anti-corruption purges, including recent expulsions of senior military figures, underpins the 97.4 percent trader consensus against his removal before 2027. These actions, alongside preparations for the 21st Party Congress, reinforce party discipline and loyalty within the Politburo and Central Military Commission while sidelining potential rivals. No designated successor has emerged, and official signals point to continuity rather than transition at the 2027 congress. Health rumors have circulated but lack confirmation of incapacity that would force an abrupt exit. Realistic shifts could still arise from a sudden medical event, major elite fracture, or unforeseen crisis that erodes his institutional support before the congress convenes.