Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission

The Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission are deputies to the chairman of the Central Military Commission. Currently, two generals of the People's Liberation Army are serving as vice chairmen: first-ranked vice chairman Zhang Youxia and second-ranked vice chairman He Weidong. According to military regulations, the vice chairmen are granted the rank of general by the virtue of their posts.[1]

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China
中国共产党中央军事委员会副主席
中华人民共和国中央军事委员会副主席
Central Military Commission
StatusDeputy-national leader level official
Reports toChairman
Seat"August 1st Building", Beijing
NominatorParty Central Committee (party commission)
Chairman of the Central Military Commission (state commission)
AppointerParty Central Committee (party commission)
National People's Congress (state commission)
Term lengthFive years, renewable
FormationDecember 1925; 99 years ago (1925-12) (party commission)
October 1949; 75 years ago (1949-10) (state commission)

There are technically two offices with the same name, including the vice chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) CMC and vice chairman of the People's Republic of China (PRC) CMC. However, under the arrangement of "one institution with two names", they function as one office.[2] Since 1997, the vice chairmen have served as the only members of the CCP Politburo holding military rank.[3]

Election

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According to the state constitution, the vice state CMC vice chairmen are elected by the National People's Congress after the nomination of the CMC chairman.[4] According to the Party constitution, the Party CMC vice chairmen are officially elected by the CCP's Central Committee.[5]

Party commissions

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CCP Central [Revolutionary] Military Commission (1937–49)

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Vice-chairmen of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission (August 1937 – August 1945) → Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (August 1945 – September 1949), a.k.a. the Chinese People's Revolutionary Military Commission (November 1948 – September 1949)
Military rank Name
(birth–death)
Hanzi Took office Left office Tenure Term(s) Portrait
General
(Republic of China, awarded 1937)
(later Marshal of the People's Republic of China, awarded 1955)
Zhu De
(1886–1976)
朱德 22 August 1937 30 September 1949 12 years, 39 days 6th, 7th  
Lieutenant General
(Republic of China, awarded 1937)
Zhou Enlai
(1898–1976)
周恩来 22 August 1937 30 September 1949 12 years, 39 days 6th, 7th  
Wang Jiaxiang
(1906–1974)
王稼祥 6 November 1938 23 August 1945 6 years, 290 days 6th, 7th  
Liu Shaoqi
(1898–1969)
刘少奇 20 March 1943 30 September 1949 6 years, 194 days 6th, 7th  
Lieutenant General
(Republic of China, awarded 1937)
(later Marshal of the People's Republic of China, awarded 1955)
Peng Dehuai
(1898–1974)
彭德怀 23 August 1945 30 September 1949 4 years, 38 days 7th  

CCP Central Military Commission (1959–present)

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Vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (September 1954 – present)
Military rank Name
(birth–death)
Hanzi Took office Left office Tenure Term(s) Portrait
Marshal Lin Biao
(1907–1971)
林彪 26 September 1959 13 September 1971 11 years, 352 days 8th, 9th  
Marshal He Long
(1896–1969)
贺龙 26 September 1959 24 April 1969 9 years, 210 days 8th  
Marshal Nie Rongzhen
(1889–1992)
聂荣臻 26 September 1959 1 November 1987 28 years, 36 days 8th, 9th, 10th,
11th, 12th
 
Marshal Chen Yi
(1901–1972)
陈毅 8 January 1966 6 January 1972 5 years, 363 days 8th, 9th  
Marshal Liu Bocheng
(1892–1986)
刘伯承 8 January 1966 11 September 1982 16 years, 246 days 8th, 9th, 10th,
11th
 
Marshal Xu Xiangqian
(1901–1990)
徐向前 8 January 1966 1 November 1987 21 years, 297 days 8th, 9th, 10th,
11th, 12th
 
Marshal Ye Jianying
(1897–1986)
叶剑英 8 January 1966 22 October 1986 20 years, 287 days 8th, 9th, 10th,
11th, 12th
 
Deng Xiaoping
(1904–1997)
邓小平 10 January 1975 7 April 1976 1 year, 88 days 10th  
19 August 1977 28 June 1981 3 years, 313 days 11th
Yang Shangkun
(1907–1998)
杨尚昆 11 September 1982 18 October 1992 10 years, 37 days 12th, 13th  
Zhao Ziyang
(1919–2005)
赵紫阳 1 November 1987 23 June 1989 1 year, 234 days 13th  
Admiral Liu Huaqing
(1916–2011)
刘华清 9 November 1989 18 September 1997 7 years, 313 days 13th, 14th  
General Zhang Zhen
(1914–2015)
张震 18 October 1992 18 September 1997 4 years, 335 days 14th  
General Chi Haotian
(born 1929)
迟浩田 28 September 1995 15 November 2002 7 years, 48 days 14th, 15th  
General Zhang Wannian
(1928–2015)
张万年 28 September 1995 15 November 2002 7 years, 48 days 14th, 15th  
Hu Jintao
(born 1942)
胡锦涛 22 September 1999 19 September 2004 4 years, 363 days 15th, 16th  
General Guo Boxiong
(born 1942)
郭伯雄 15 November 2002 15 November 2012 10 years, 0 days 16th, 17th  
General Cao Gangchuan
(born 1935)
曹刚川 15 November 2002 21 October 2007 4 years, 340 days 16th  
General Xu Caihou
(1943–2015)
徐才厚 19 September 2004 15 November 2012 8 years, 57 days 16th, 17th  
Xi Jinping
(born 1953)
习近平 18 October 2010 15 November 2012 2 years, 28 days 17th  
General Fan Changlong
(born 1947)
范长龙 4 November 2012 25 October 2017 4 years, 355 days 18th  
Air Force General Xu Qiliang
(born 1950)
许其亮 4 November 2012 23 October 2022 9 years, 353 days 18th, 19th  
General Zhang Youxia
(born 1950)
张又侠 25 October 2017 Incumbent 7 years, 55 days 19th, 20th  
General He Weidong
(born 1957)
何卫东 23 October 2022 Incumbent 2 years, 57 days 20th

State commissions

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CPG People's Revolutionary Military Commission (1949–54)

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Vice-chairmen of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's Government (October 1949 – September 1954)
Military rank Name
(birth–death)
Hanzi Took office Left office Tenure Portrait
formerly
General
(Republic of China)
Zhu De
(1886–1976)
朱德 1 October 1949 27 September 1954 4 years, 361 days  
Liu Shaoqi
(1898–1969)
刘少奇 1 October 1949 27 September 1954 4 years, 361 days  
formerly
Lieutenant General
(Republic of China)
Zhou Enlai
(1898–1976)
周恩来 1 October 1949 27 September 1954 4 years, 361 days  
formerly
Lieutenant General
(Republic of China)
Peng Dehuai
(1898–1974)
彭德怀 1 October 1949 27 September 1954 4 years, 361 days  
formerly
General, 1st Class
(Republic of China)
Cheng Qian
(1882–1968)
程潜 19 October 1949 27 September 1954 4 years, 343 days  
formerly
Lieutenant General
(Republic of China)
Lin Biao
(1907–1971)
林彪 5 November 1951 27 September 1954 2 years, 326 days  
Gao Gang
(1905–1954)
高岗 5 November 1951 27 September 1954 2 years, 326 days  
formerly
Lieutenant General
(Republic of China)
Liu Bocheng
(1892–1986)
刘伯承 19 June 1954 27 September 1954 110 days  
formerly
Lieutenant General
(Republic of China)
He Long
(1896–1969)
贺龙 19 June 1954 27 September 1954 110 days  
Chen Yi
(1901–1971)
陈毅 19 June 1954 27 September 1954 110 days  
Luo Ronghuan
(1902–1963)
罗荣桓 19 June 1954 27 September 1954 110 days  
formerly
Major General
(Republic of China)
Xu Xiangqian
(1901–1990)
徐向前 19 June 1954 27 September 1954 110 days  
formerly
Major General
(Republic of China)
Nie Rongzhen
(1889–1992)
聂荣臻 19 June 1954 27 September 1954 110 days  
formerly
Lieutenant General
(Republic of China)
Ye Jianying
(1897–1986)
叶剑英 19 June 1954 27 September 1954 110 days  

PRC National Defense Council (1954–75)

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Vice-chairmen of the National Defense Council of the People's Republic of China (1954–1975)
Military rank Name
(birth–death)
Hanzi Took office Left office Tenure Term(s) Portrait
Marshal Zhu De
(1886–1976)
朱德 29 September 1954 28 April 1959 4 years, 211 days 1st  
Marshal Peng Dehuai
(1898–1974)
彭德怀 29 September 1954 4 January 1965 10 years, 97 days 1st, 2nd  
Marshal Lin Biao
(1907–1971)
林彪 29 September 1954 13 September 1971 16 years, 349 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
Marshal Liu Bocheng
(1892–1986)
刘伯承 29 September 1954 13 January 1975 20 years, 196 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
Marshal He Long
(1896–1969)
贺龙 29 September 1954 13 January 1975 20 years, 196 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
Marshal Chen Yi
(1901–1971)
陈毅 29 September 1954 13 January 1975 20 years, 196 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
Deng Xiaoping
(1904–1997)
邓小平 29 September 1954 12 August 1966 11 years, 317 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
Marshal Luo Ronghuan
(1902–1963)
罗荣桓 29 September 1954 4 January 1965 10 years, 97 days 1st, 2nd  
Marshal Xu Xiangqian
(1901–1990)
徐向前 29 September 1954 13 January 1975 20 years, 196 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
Marshal Nie Rongzhen
(1889–1992)
聂荣臻 29 September 1954 13 January 1975 20 years, 196 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
Marshal Ye Jianying
(1897–1986)
叶剑英 29 September 1954 13 January 1975 20 years, 196 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
formerly
General, 1st Class
(Republic of China)
Cheng Qian
(1882–1968)
程潜 29 September 1954 13 January 1975 20 years, 196 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
formerly
General, 2nd Class
(Republic of China)
Zhang Zhizhong
(1895–1969)
张治中 29 September 1954 13 January 1975 20 years, 196 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
formerly
General, 2nd Class
(Republic of China)
Fu Zuoyi
(1895–1974)
傅作义 29 September 1954 13 January 1975 20 years, 196 days 1st, 2nd, 3rd  
formerly
General, 2nd Class

(Republic of China)
Long Yun
(1884–1962)
龙云 29 September 1954 1 February 1958 3 years, 125 days 1st  
formerly
General, 2nd Class
(Republic of China)
Wei Lihuang
(1897–1960)
卫立煌 28 April 1959 17 January 1960 264 days 2nd  
formerly
General, 2nd Class
(Republic of China)
Cai Tingkai
(1892–1968)
蔡廷锴 16 April 1962 25 April 1968 6 years, 9 days 2nd, 3rd  
Grand General Luo Ruiqing
(1906–1978)
罗瑞卿 4 January 1965 13 January 1975 10 years, 9 days 3rd  

PRC Central Military Commission (1983–present)

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Vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China (1983–present)
Military rank Name
(birth–death)
Hanzi Took office Left office Tenure Term(s) Portrait
Marshal Xu Xiangqian
(1901–1990)
徐向前 6 June 1983 13 April 1988 4 years, 312 days 6th  
Marshal Ye Jianying
(1897–1986)
叶剑英 6 June 1983 13 April 1988 4 years, 312 days 6th  
Yang Shangkun
(1907–1998)
杨尚昆 6 June 1983 31 March 1993 9 years, 298 days 6th, 7th  
Zhao Ziyang
(1919–2005)
赵紫阳 25 April 1987 23 June 1989 2 years, 59 days 7th  
General Liu Huaqing
(1916–2011)
刘华清 28 March 1993 5 March 1998 4 years, 342 days 8th  
General Chi Haotian
(born 1929)
迟浩田 28 March 1993 5 March 2003 9 years, 342 days 8th, 9th  
General Zhang Wannian
(1928–2015)
张万年 28 March 1993 5 March 2003 9 years, 342 days 8th, 9th  
Hu Jintao
(born 1942)
胡锦涛 October 1999 13 March 2005 5 years, 163 days 9th, 10th  
General Guo Boxiong
(born 1942)
郭伯雄 16 March 2003 16 March 2013 10 years, 0 days 10th, 11th  
General Cao Gangchuan
(born 1935)
曹刚川 16 March 2003 14 March 2008 4 years, 364 days 10th  
General Xu Caihou
(1943–2015)
徐才厚 13 March 2005 14 March 2013 8 years, 0 days 10th, 11th  
Xi Jinping
(born 1953)
习近平 28 October 2010 14 March 2013 2 years, 137 days 11th  
General Fan Changlong
(born 1947)
范长龙 16 March 2013 18 March 2018 5 years, 2 days 12th  
Air Force General Xu Qiliang
(born 1950)
许其亮 16 March 2013 11 March 2023 9 years, 360 days 12th, 13th  
General Zhang Youxia
(born 1950)
张又侠 18 March 2018 Incumbent 6 years, 276 days 13th, 14th  
General He Weidong
(born 1957)
何卫东 11 March 2023 Incumbent 1 year, 283 days 14th

References

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  1. ^ "Regulations on the Military Ranks of Officers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army". National People's Congress. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  2. ^ Liu, Zhen (18 October 2022). "What is China's Central Military Commission and why is it so powerful?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Decoding Chinese Politics: Military". Asia Society. Retrieved 11 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Constitution of the People's Republic of China". National People's Congress. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  5. ^ Panyue, Huang (27 October 2022). "Full text of Constitution of Communist Party of China - China Military". China Military. Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 2023-09-24.