List of presidents of China

This is a list of the heads of state of the Republic of China (ROC) since 1912 and the state representatives of the People's Republic of China (PRC) since 1949.

List of presidents of the Republic (since 1912)

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This is a list of the presidents of the Republic of China (ROC) (1912–present). The Republic of China president is called 總統 (Zǒngtǒng, "President"), and from 1912–1928, 大總統 (Dàzǒngtǒng, "Grand President").

Since 1949, the de facto territory of the ROC is reduced to Taiwan and its surrounding islands, the former previously ruled by Japan from 1895 to 1945, no longer governing mainland China. It continued to represent China in the United Nations until it was expelled on 25 October 1971 and diplomatically by the United States government until 1 January 1979. The President of the ROC is also known as the President of Taiwan due to the territory it governs.

All the names on this list follow the Oriental convention with the family name first and given name second.

Provisional Government:   Tongmenghui   Beiyang clique, etc.
Beiyang Government:   Beiyang clique, etc.   Progressive Party/Research Clique   Communications Clique
Nationalist to Constitutional Government:   Kuomintang   Democratic Progressive Party

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Vice President Assembly
(elected)
1   Sun Yat-sen
孫中山
(1866–1925)
1 January 1912 10 March 1912 Tongmenghui Li Yuanhong
(Nonpartisan)
Provisional (1911)
2   Yuan Shikai
袁世凱
(1859–1916)
10 March 1912 10 October 1913 Beiyang clique Li Yuanhong
(Nonpartisan)
Provisional (1912)

Presidents of the Beiyang Government

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Vice President Assembly
(elected)
1   Yuan Shikai
袁世凱
(1859–1916)
10 October 1913 6 June 1916[note 1][note 2] Beiyang clique Li Yuanhong
(Progressive)
1st (1913)
2   Li Yuanhong
黎元洪
(1864–1928)
7 June 1916 17 July 1917[note 3][note 4] Progressive Party Feng Guozhang
(Zhili clique)
  Feng Guozhang
馮國璋
(1859–1919)
(acting)[note 5]
17 July 1917 10 October 1918 Zhili clique Vacant
3   Xu Shichang
徐世昌
(1855–1939)
10 October 1918 2 June 1922[note 4] Anhui clique Vacant 2nd (1918)
  Zhou Ziqi
周自齊
(1871–1923)
(acting)[note 6]
2 June 1922 11 June 1922 Communications Clique Vacant
(2)   Li Yuanhong
黎元洪
(1864–1928)
11 June 1922 13 June 1923[note 4] Research Clique Vacant
  Gao Lingwei
高凌霨
(1868–1939)
(acting)[note 7]
14 June 1923 10 October 1923 Zhili clique Vacant
4   Cao Kun
曹錕
(1862–1938)
10 October 1923 2 November 1924[note 4] Zhili clique Vacant (1923)
  Huang Fu
黃郛
(1883–1936)
(acting)[note 6]
2 November 1924 24 November 1924 Nonpartisan Vacant
5   Duan Qirui[note 8]
段祺瑞
(1865–1936)
24 November 1924 20 April 1926[note 4] Anhui clique Vacant
Vacant
  Hu Weide[note 9]
胡惟德
(1863–1933)
(acting)[note 6]
20 April 1926 13 May 1926 Zhili clique Vacant
  Yan Huiqing
(W.W. Yan)

顏惠慶
(1877–1950)
(acting)[note 7]
13 May 1926 22 June 1926 Nonpartisan Vacant
  Du Xigui
杜錫珪
(1875–1933)
(acting)[note 6]
22 June 1926 1 October 1926 Zhili clique Vacant
  V.K. Wellington Koo
顧維鈞
(1888–1985)
(acting)[note 7]
1 October 1926 17 June 1927[note 10] Nonpartisan Vacant
6   Zhang Zuolin[note 11]
張作霖
(1875–1928)
18 June 1927 4 June 1928[note 12] Fengtian clique Vacant
No. Portrait Name[note 13]
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Assembly
(elected)
  Tan Yankai
譚延闓
(1880–1930)
7 February 1928 10 October 1928 Kuomintang 2nd National Congress of Kuomintang
(4th plenum)
  Chiang Kai-shek
蔣中正
(1887–1975)
10 October 1928 15 December 1931[note 10] Kuomintang 2nd National Congress of Kuomintang
(5th plenum)
  Lin Sen
林森
(1868–1943)
15 December 1931[note 14] 1 August 1943[note 2] Kuomintang
4th National Congress of Kuomintang
(1st plenum)
  Chiang Kai-shek
蔣中正
(1887–1975)
1 August 1943[note 15] 20 May 1948 Kuomintang
5th National Congress of Kuomintang
(11th plenum)

Presidents after the 1947 Constitution

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Vice President Term
(elected)
1   Chiang Kai-shek
蔣中正
(1887–1975)
20 May 1948 21 January 1949[note 16] Kuomintang Li Zongren
(Kuomintang)
1 (1948)
  Li Zongren
李宗仁
(1890–1969)
(acting)[note 5]
21 January 1949 1 March 1950 Kuomintang Vacant
(1)   Chiang Kai-shek
蔣中正
(1887–1975)
1 March 1950 5 April 1975[note 2] Kuomintang Li Zongren[note 17]
(Kuomintang)
Vacant
Chen Cheng[note 18]
(Kuomintang)
2 (1954)
3 (1960)
Vacant
Yen Chia-kan
(Kuomintang)
4 (1966)
5 (1972)
2   Yen Chia-kan
(C. K. Yen)
嚴家淦
(1905–1993)
5 April 1975 20 May 1978 Kuomintang Vacant
3   Chiang Ching-kuo
蔣經國
(1910–1988)
20 May 1978 13 January 1988[note 2] Kuomintang Hsieh Tung-min
(Kuomintang)
6 (1978)
Lee Teng-hui
(Kuomintang)
7 (1984)
4   Lee Teng-hui
李登輝
(1923–2020)
13 January 1988 20 May 2000 Kuomintang Vacant
Lee Yuan-tsu
(Kuomintang)
8 (1990)
Lien Chan
(KMT)
9 (1996)
5   Chen Shui-bian
陳水扁
(born 1950)
20 May 2000 20 May 2008 Democratic Progressive Annette Lu
(DPP)
10 (2000)
11 (2004)
6   Ma Ying-jeou
馬英九
(born 1950)
20 May 2008 20 May 2016 Kuomintang Vincent Siew
(KMT)
12 (2008)
Wu Den-yih
(KMT)
13 (2012)
7   Tsai Ing-wen
蔡英文
(born 1956)
20 May 2016 20 May 2024 Democratic Progressive Chen Chien-jen
(Independent)
14 (2016)
William Lai
(DPP)
15 (2020)
8   Lai Ching-te
賴清德
(born 1959)
20 May 2024 Incumbent Democratic Progressive Hsiao Bi-khim
(DPP)
16 (2024)

List of presidents of the People's Republic (since 1949)

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This is a list of all the chairmen of the People's Republic of China (1954–1975) and the presidents of the People's Republic of China (1982–present). The President of the PRC is called 主席 (zhǔxí), formerly translated as Chairman.

To avoid confusion, all the names on this list follow the Oriental convention (family name first, given name second) for consistency.

Generations of leadership

  First Administration   Second Administration   Third Administration   Hu–Wen Administration   Xi–Li Administration   Xi Jinping Administration

Chairman of the Central People's Government

The 1st Constitution (1954–1975)

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Chairman/Chairwoman of the People's Republic China
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency
Term of office NPC Vice Chairman Paramount leader
1   Mao Zedong
毛泽东
(1893–1976)
Beijing At-large
27 September 1954 27 April 1959 I Zhu De Himself
The first Chairman of the People's Republic of China. Also served as Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.
2   Liu Shaoqi
刘少奇
(1898–1969)
Beijing At-large
27 April 1959 21 December 1964 II Soong Ching-ling & Dong Biwu
(co-serving)
Mao Zedong
21 December 1964 31 October 1968 III
Ousted by Mao Zedong during the Cultural Revolution.
   Soong Ching-ling
宋庆龄
(1893–1981)
Shanghai At-large
Dong Biwu
董必武
(1886–1975)
Hubei At-large
31 October 1968 24 February 1972 (Soong)

17 January 1975 (Dong)

III Vacancy by ascension Mao Zedong
Both Soong Ching-ling and Dong Biwu co-served as Acting Chairpersons of the People's Republic of China until the resignation of Soong Ching-ling on 24 February 1972. Dong Biwu served the remainder of the term.

The 2nd Constitution (1975–1978)

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Chairman/Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the 4th National People's Congress
  1. Zhu De (17 January 1975 – 6 July 1976) died in office
  2. Soong Ching-ling (6 July 1976 – 5 March 1978) acting
  3. Ye Jianying (5 March 1978 – 5 March 1978)

The 3rd Constitution (1978–1982)

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Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 5th National People's Congress
Honorary President of the People's Republic of China
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency
Term of office NPC Vice President Paramount leader
  Soong Ching-ling
宋庆龄
(1893–1981)
Shanghai At-large
16 May 1981 V Deng Xiaoping
The first and only Honorary President of the People's Republic of China.

The 4th Constitution (1982–present)

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President of the People's Republic China
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency
Term of office NPC Vice President Paramount leader
3   Li Xiannian
李先念
(1909–1992)
Hubei At-large
18 June 1983 8 April 1988 VI Ulanhu Deng Xiaoping
The first President under the 4th Constitution of the People's Republic of China. He started reforms in foreign policy and China began opening to the world. He was first Chinese president who visited USA. He was also the first state president who officially visited North Korea. In 1984, Li met with US President Ronald Reagan during Reagan's visit to China, notably discussing the status of Taiwan with the President. In 1988, Li resigned from his position as President of the People's Republic of China and was replaced by Yang Shangkun. Li was then named Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC.[1]
4   Yang Shangkun
杨尚昆
(1907–1998)
Sichuan At-large
8 April 1988 27 March 1993 VII Wang Zhen Deng Xiaoping
Jiang Zemin
The second President under the 4th Constitution of the People's Republic of China. Yang promoted economic reform but opposed political liberalization, a position which Deng Xiaoping eventually came to identify with. Yang reached the height of his political career after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, but his organized opposition to Jiang Zemin's leadership led Deng to force Yang to retire.
5   Jiang Zemin
江泽民
(1926–2022)
Shanghai At-large
27 March 1993 15 March 1998 VIII Rong Yiren Himself
15 March 1998 15 March 2003 IX Hu Jintao
Under his leadership, China experienced substantial developmental growth with reforms, saw the peaceful return of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom and Macau from Portugal, and improved its relations with the outside world while the Communist Party maintained its tight control over the government. Jiang has been criticized for being too concerned about his personal image at home, and too conciliatory towards Russia and the United States abroad.[2] Served as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (1989–2002), Chairman of the Central Military Commission (1989–2004), Communist Party secretary of Shanghai (1987–1989).
6   Hu Jintao
胡锦涛
(born 1942)
Tibet At-large (until 2008)
Zhejiang At-large (from 2008)
15 March 2003 15 March 2008 X Zeng Qinghong Himself
15 March 2008 14 March 2013 XI Xi Jinping
During his term in office, Hu reintroduced state control in some sectors of the economy that were relaxed by the previous administration, and has been conservative with political reforms.[3] Along with his colleague, Premier Wen Jiabao, Hu presided over nearly a decade of consistent economic growth and development that cemented China as a major world power. He sought to improve socio-economic equality domestically through the Scientific Development Concept, which aimed to build a "Socialist Harmonious Society" that was prosperous and free of social conflict.[4] In foreign policy, Hu advocated for "China's peaceful development", pursuing soft power in international relations and a business-oriented approach to diplomacy. Through Hu's tenure, China's influence in Africa, Latin America, and other developing countries has increased.[5] Served as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (2002–2012), Chairman of the Central Military Commission (2004–2012), Vice President (1998–2003) and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (1999–2004).
7   Xi Jinping
习近平
(born 1953)
Shanghai At-large (until 2018)

Inner Mongolia At-large (2018–2023)
Jiangsu At-large (from 2023)
14 March 2013 17 March 2018 XII Li Yuanchao Himself
17 March 2018 10 March 2023 XIII Wang Qishan
10 March 2023 Incumbent XIV Han Zheng
The fifth President under the 4th Constitution of the People's Republic of China. Also serving as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Served as Vice President (2008–2013) and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (2010–2012). Under his leadership, Xi strengthened mass surveillance and launched Xinjiang internment camps. Xi presided over anti-corruption campaign. In foreign policy, Xi advocated for "Wolf warrior diplomacy". Term limits for the president were removed in 2018.

Notes

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  1. ^ Proclaimed a new empire from 12 December 1915 to 22 March 1916.
  2. ^ a b c d Died in office.
  3. ^ Zhang Xun restored Qing Empire from 1 July to 12 July in 1917.
  4. ^ a b c d e Forced out of office.
  5. ^ a b As Vice President.
  6. ^ a b c d As Acting Premier.
  7. ^ a b c As Premier.
  8. ^ Provisional Chief Executive instead of President.
  9. ^ Acting Provisional Chief Executive instead of Acting President.
  10. ^ a b Resigned.
  11. ^ Zhang was the Generalissimo of the Beiyang Military Government instead of President.
  12. ^ Assassinated.
  13. ^ The Chairman of the Nationalist Government (國民政府) was the head of state in this period (political tutelage; 訓政時期). There was no office of Vice Chairman.
  14. ^ Assumed office as acting chairman from 15 December 1931 to 1 January 1932.
  15. ^ Assumed office as acting chairman from 1 June to 1o October 1943.
  16. ^ Declared incapacity.
  17. ^ Vice-President from 1948 to 1954; impeached and recalled in 1954.
  18. ^ Died on 5 March 1965.

References

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  1. ^ Anderson, Kurt (7 May 1984). "History Beckons Again". Time. Archived from the original on 18 January 2005. Retrieved 19 August 2011.
  2. ^ Tomoyuki Kojima. China's Omnidirectional Diplomacy: Cooperation with all, Emphasis on Major Powers. Asia-Pacific Review, 1469–2937, Volume 8, Issue 2, 2001.
  3. ^ Luard, Tim (11 January 2005). "BBC: China's Leader shows his stripes. 11 January 2005". BBC News. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  4. ^ "Kuhn, Robert Lawrence: Hu's Political Philosophies" (PDF). Esnips.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
  5. ^ World Savvy Monitor: China and the World - A foreign policy overview[permanent dead link]