Xi Jinping’s dominance within the Chinese Communist Party and People’s Liberation Army drives the near-certain trader consensus that he will remain general secretary through the end of 2026. Extensive purges of senior military and civilian officials, including recent investigations into Central Military Commission members, have eliminated potential rivals while reinforcing loyalty networks rather than signaling weakness. No institutional mechanisms or visible elite factions exist to force an early exit before the 21st Party Congress in late 2027, where Xi is positioned to pursue a fourth term after abolishing presidential term limits. He continues to appear publicly at major events and summits at age 73, with succession planning deferred. Low-probability shifts could still arise from an unforeseen health crisis, elite backlash amid economic pressures, or abrupt diplomatic reversals that fracture internal support.