Xi Jinping’s consolidation of power through repeated anti-corruption purges, elimination of term limits, and placement of loyalists across the Politburo Standing Committee and Central Military Commission underpins trader consensus that he will remain in office past 2027. Recent personnel moves ahead of the 21st Party Congress, expected in late 2027, show continued emphasis on continuity rather than transition, with no designated successor or visible elite challenge emerging. At age 73, Xi faces no formal retirement norms or institutional pressure to depart before securing a fourth term. While health events, sudden leadership fractures, or external shocks could theoretically alter the timeline, current elite dynamics and the absence of competing factions make such shifts improbable within the market window.