How Xi Jinping plans to tighten his grip at historic Chinese Communist Party Congress

President Xi Jinping's expected reappointment for a third five-year term as head of the Chinese Communist Party and the military is set to be a watershed moment in China's modern history. As with Deng Xiaoping's launch of economic reforms in 1979 and his decision a decade later to crush pro-democracy protests with force, it will — for better or worse — radically alter the country's course.

The party's 20th congress opens in Beijing on Sunday and will bring together more than 2,000 delegates from across the country. It will close a week later with the unveiling of the party's new leadership, which is set to again be headed by Xi. In doing so, the congress will bring down the curtain on a two-decade period defined by predictable and orderly transitions from one party leader to another.

Besides reaffirming Xi as the party's paramount leader and head of its powerful Central Military Commission, which controls China's armed forces, the congress will unveil a new central committee comprised of about 200 full members and 170 alternates, a 25-member Politburo and a seven-person Politburo Standing Committee.

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Will Xi be reappointed president?

Not yet. State positions, including president and premier, will not be made official until March, at the annual session of China's parliament, the National People's Congress. But the head of the party is typically appointed president. The party's second-highest ranking member usually, but not always, serves as premier.

Xi is widely expected to be reappointed to a third term as the party's top leader, or general secretary, although it is also possible he could resurrect and assume the title of party chair,...