The Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK), also commonly known, especially when referenced historically, as the Left Kuomintang or Left Guomindang, is one of the
eight legally recognised minor political parties in the
People's Republic of China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
that follow the direction of the
Chinese Communist Party
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and One-party state, sole ruling party of the China, People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victoriou ...
(CCP). It was founded in January 1948, during the height of the
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and forces of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing intermittently since 1 August 1927 until 7 December 1949 with a Communist victory on m ...
, by members of the left wing of the
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
(KMT), especially those who were against
Chiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek (31 October 1887 – 5 April 1975), also known as Chiang Chung-cheng and Jiang Jieshi, was a Chinese Nationalist politician, revolutionary, and military leader who served as the leader of the Republic of China (ROC) from 1928 ...
's policies. The first Chairman of the party was General
Li Jishen
Li Jishen or Li Chi-shen (5 November 1885 – 9 October 1959) was a Chinese military officer and politician, general of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China, Vice Chairman of the People's Republic of China (1949–1954 ...
, a senior Nationalist military commander who had many disputes with Chiang over the years, while
Soong Ching-ling
Rosamond Soong Ch'ing-ling (27 January 189329 May 1981) was a Chinese political figure. As the third wife of Sun Yat-sen, then Premier of the Kuomintang and President of the Republic of China, she was often referred to as Madame Sun Yat-sen. ...
(the widow of
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen (; also known by several other names; 12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925)Singtao daily. Saturday edition. 23 October 2010. section A18. Sun Yat-sen Xinhai revolution 100th anniversary edition . was a Chinese politician who serve ...
) was named Honorary Chairwoman. Other early leading members were
Wang Kunlun
Wang Kunlun (; August 1, 1902–August 23, 1985), birth name Wang Ruyu (王汝虞), was a Chinese politician who held high-profile positions, at different times, in both the Nationalist and Communist parties. Born 1902 in Baoding, Hebei provin ...
,
Cheng Qian
Cheng Qian (; 31 March 1882 – 5 April 1968) was a Chinese army officer and politician who held very important military and political positions in both the Republic of China and the People's Republic of China.Wolfgang Bartke, ''Who was Who in the ...
,
He Xiangning
He Xiangning (; 27 June 1878 – 1 September 1972) was a Chinese revolutionary, feminist, politician, painter, and poet. Together with her husband Liao Zhongkai, she was one of the earliest members of Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary movement Tongme ...
and
Tao Zhiyue
Tao Zhiyue (; 1892 – 26 December 1988) was a Chinese military officer and politician, lieutenant general of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China, and a full general of the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic o ...
. The party claims to be the true heir of
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen (; also known by several other names; 12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925)Singtao daily. Saturday edition. 23 October 2010. section A18. Sun Yat-sen Xinhai revolution 100th anniversary edition . was a Chinese politician who serve ...
's legacy and his
Three Principles of the People
The Three Principles of the People (; also translated as the Three People's Principles, San-min Doctrine, or Tridemism) is a political philosophy developed by Sun Yat-sen as part of a philosophy to improve China made during the Republican Era. ...
. By the end of 2017, it had 131,410 members.
Soong Ching-ling served as
Vice President of the People's Republic of China
The vice president of the People's Republic of China (), also known as state vice chairman (), is a senior position in the government of the People's Republic of China. It was formerly translated as the vice chairman of the People's Republic of ...
and Honorary
President of the People's Republic of China
The president of the People's Republic of China, commonly called the president of China, is the head of state and the second-highest political office of the People's Republic of China. The presidency is constitutionally a largely ceremonial off ...
. Li Jishen served as Vice Chairman of the
Central People's Government
The State Council, constitutionally synonymous with the Central People's Government since 1954 (particularly in relation to local governments), is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the p ...
and Vice Chairman of the
Central Military Commission.
Among the officially sanctioned political parties of the
People's Republic of China
China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
, the Revolutionary Committee is seen as second in status to the CCP. Thus, the Revolutionary Committee is allotted the second highest number of seats in the
People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC, zh, 中国人民政治协商会议), also known as the People's PCC (, ) or simply the PCC (), is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China and a central part of ...
(30%). It also owns numerous assets, some formerly owned by the Kuomintang, throughout mainland China. The Revolutionary Committee operates a range of party-owned institutions, such as party schools.
History
After the end of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the relationship between the Chinese Kuomintang and the CCP, who had allied to fight the Japanese, became increasingly tense; ultimately, both sides restarted the
civil war
A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country).
The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
, which World War II had interrupted.
In 1945 and 1946, members of the Kuomintang's left formed the
Three Principles of the People Confederation of Comrades
3 is a number, numeral, and glyph.
3, three, or III may also refer to:
* AD 3, the third year of the AD era
* 3 BC, the third year before the AD era
* March, the third month
Books
* '' Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 ...
and the
Kuomintang Democratic Promotion Association
The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
in Chongqing and Guangzhou, respectively.
In November 1947, the first joint representative meeting of the Kuomintang left was held in
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...
; on 1 January 1948, the meeting announced the official establishment of the "Chinese Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee", and nominated
Soong Ching-ling
Rosamond Soong Ch'ing-ling (27 January 189329 May 1981) was a Chinese political figure. As the third wife of Sun Yat-sen, then Premier of the Kuomintang and President of the Republic of China, she was often referred to as Madame Sun Yat-sen. ...
, the widow of Sun Yat-sen, as the Honorary Chairwoman of the Revolutionary Committee (despite Soong Ching-ling never formally joining the commission).
Chairman
Li Jishen
Li Jishen or Li Chi-shen (5 November 1885 – 9 October 1959) was a Chinese military officer and politician, general of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China, Vice Chairman of the People's Republic of China (1949–1954 ...
,
He Xiangning
He Xiangning (; 27 June 1878 – 1 September 1972) was a Chinese revolutionary, feminist, politician, painter, and poet. Together with her husband Liao Zhongkai, she was one of the earliest members of Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary movement Tongme ...
, and
Feng Yuxiang
Feng Yuxiang (; ; 6 November 1882 – 1 September 1948), courtesy name Huanzhang (焕章), was a warlord and a leader of the Republic of China from Chaohu, Anhui. He served as Vice Premier of the Republic of China from 1928 to 1930. He was ...
were selected as the central leadership of the organization.
In 1949, Li Jishen and other representatives of the RCCK were invited by the CCP to participate in
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC, zh, 中国人民政治协商会议), also known as the People's PCC (, ) or simply the PCC (), is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China and a central part of ...
.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China in October 1949, members of the Chinese Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee maintained positions in the municipal and central governments.
In November 1949, the second congress of the Chinese Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee was held in Beijing. At the second congress, the Chinese Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee, Chinese Nationalist Democratic Promotion Association, the Comrades of the Three Peoples Principles, and other members of the Kuomintang's left wing agreed to merge and form the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang.
Today, the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang focuses on improving relations with the Kuomintang on
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
, and its membership mainly consists of the descendants of Kuomintang revolutionaries.
It recruits members with current ties to Taiwan who support
Chinese unification
Chinese unification, also known as the Cross-Strait unification or Chinese reunification, is the potential unification of territories currently controlled, or claimed, by the People's Republic of China ("China" or "Mainland China") and the ...
.
Central Committee
The Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang has six working departments including the General Office, the Organization Department, the Propaganda Department, the Liaison Department, the Social Services Department, and the Research Department.
Chairpersons of the Central Committee
#
Li Jishen
Li Jishen or Li Chi-shen (5 November 1885 – 9 October 1959) was a Chinese military officer and politician, general of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China, Vice Chairman of the People's Republic of China (1949–1954 ...
(), 1948–1959
#
He Xiangning
He Xiangning (; 27 June 1878 – 1 September 1972) was a Chinese revolutionary, feminist, politician, painter, and poet. Together with her husband Liao Zhongkai, she was one of the earliest members of Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary movement Tongme ...
(), 1960–1972
#
Zhu Yunshan (), 1979–1981
#
Wang Kunlun
Wang Kunlun (; August 1, 1902–August 23, 1985), birth name Wang Ruyu (王汝虞), was a Chinese politician who held high-profile positions, at different times, in both the Nationalist and Communist parties. Born 1902 in Baoding, Hebei provin ...
(), 1981–1985
#
Qu Wu (), 1987–1988
#
Zhu Xuefan (), 1988–1992
#
Li Peiyao (), 1992–1996
#
He Luli
He Luli (; 7 June 1934 – 19 March 2022) was a Chinese politician and paediatrician. She entered politics after practicing medicine for 27 years, serving as Vice-Mayor of Beijing, Chairwoman of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuominta ...
(), 1996–2007
#
Zhou Tienong (), 2007–2012
#
Wan Exiang
Wan Exiang (; born May 1956) is a Chinese politician, jurist, chairperson of the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang (2012–2022), Vice Chairperson of the 12th and 13th National People's Congress Standing Committees (2013–present).
B ...
(), 2012–2022
#
Zheng Jianbang
Zheng Jianbang (, born January 1957) is a Chinese male politician, who is currently the chairperson of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK) and a vice chairperson of The National Committee of the Chinese People's Politic ...
(), 2022–present
Honorary Chairpersons of the Central Committee
#
Song Qingling
Rosamond Soong Ch'ing-ling (27 January 189329 May 1981) was a Chinese political figure. As the third wife of Sun Yat-sen, then Premier of the Kuomintang and President of the Republic of China, she was often referred to as Madame Sun Yat-sen. ...
(), 1948–1949
#
Qu Wu (), 1988–1992
#
Zhu Xuefan (), 1992–1996
#
Hou Jingru
Hou Jingru (; October 17, 1902 – October 25, 1994) was a Chinese army officer and politician, prominent member of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang. He notably served as Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consult ...
(), 1992–1994
#
Sun Yueqi (), 1992–1995
Chairpersons of provincial committees
*
Han Youwen
Han Youwen (; October 1912 – February 22, 1998) was an ethnic Salar Muslim General in the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China, born in Hualong Hui Autonomous County, Qinghai. His Muslim name was Muhammad Habibullah ().
Caree ...
(), Chairman of the Xinjiang Branch until 1998
Electoral history
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (NPC; ), or simply the National People's Congress, is constitutionally the supreme state authority and the national legislature of the People's Republic of China.
With 2, ...
elections
See also
*
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang (KMT), also referred to as the Guomindang (GMD), the Nationalist Party of China (NPC) or the Chinese Nationalist Party (CNP), is a major political party in the Republic of China, initially on the Chinese mainland and in Tai ...
*
Politics of China
The People's Republic of China is run by a single party, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), headed by the CCP General Secretary who tends to be the paramount leader of China. China is among few contemporary party-led dictatorships to not hold ...
*
List of political parties in China
The People's Republic of China is a one-party state ruled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Despite this, eight subservient political parties officially exist.
Under the one country, two systems principle, the special administrative regions ...
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Organizations associated with the Chinese Communist Party
Political parties in China
Political parties established in 1948
Kuomintang
Chinese nationalist political parties
Socialist parties in China