Xi Jinping’s firm grip on the Chinese Communist Party, reinforced by ongoing military purges and personnel reshuffles in early 2026, underpins trader consensus that he will remain in office through the 21st Party Congress. His active public schedule—including the New Year address, March National People’s Congress sessions unveiling the 15th Five-Year Plan, and May summit diplomacy with the United States—demonstrates continued health and authority with no verified challenges or succession signals emerging. Elite dynamics favor a fourth term continuation, consistent with patterns of power consolidation since 2022, while pre-Congress leadership churn creates uncertainty but no near-term removal pathway. Late developments such as health events or unforeseen internal upheavals remain the only plausible factors that could alter this positioning before 2027.