Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China)

Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party
中国共产党中央军事委员会主席
Emblem of the Chinese Communist Party
Flag of the Chinese Communist Party
Incumbent Xi Jinping since 15 November 2012
Central Military Commission People's Liberation Army
Style	Chairman (主席) (informal) Comrade (同志) (formal)
Type	Commander-in-chief
Residence	Zhongnanhai
Seat	"August 1st Building", Beijing
Appointer	Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
Term length	Five years, renewable
Inaugural holder	Zhang Guotao
Formation	December 1925; 96 years ago (1925-12)
Deputy	Vice Chairman
Website	Chairmanship

Politics of China
Leadership Leadership generations Succession of power Hu–Wen Administration (2002–2012) Xi–Li Administration (2012–2017) Xi Core Administration (since 2017) 4th Leadership Core: Xi Jinping 19th Party Politburo: Xi Jinping 13th State Council: Li Keqiang Current state leaders Current provincial leaders National leaders Orders of precedence Paramount leader: Xi Jinping Communist Party leader: Xi Jinping Head of state: Xi Jinping Head of government: Li Keqiang Congress Chairman: Li Zhanshu Conference Chairman: Wang Yang Commander-in-chief: Xi Jinping Politburo Standing Committee members Related systems Democratic centralism Collective leadership Organization Department Elections Civil service
Communist Party History Principal leaders Constitution Admission Oath (Article 6) Organization National Party Congress (19th) Central Committee (19th) General Secretary (list) Xi Jinping Central Politburo (19th) Standing Committee (list) Central Secretariat Top-ranked secretary: Wang Huning Central Military Commission Chairman: Xi Jinping Vice-Chairman: Xu Qiliang, Zhang Youxia National Security Commission : Xi Jinping Vice-Chairman: Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu Office Chief: Ding Xuexiang Comprehensively Deepening Reforms Commission Director: Xi Jinping Deputy Directors: Li Keqiang, Wang Huning, Han Zheng Secretary-General: Wang Huning Financial & Economic Affairs Commission Director: Xi Jinping Deputy Director: Li Keqiang Office Chief: Liu He General Office Director: Ding Xuexiang Office of the General Secretary Chief: Ding Xuexiang Central Security Bureau Central Guard Unit Office of the Central Secrecy Commission Organization Department Head: Chen Xi Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (19th) (19th) Secretary: Zhao Leji Provincial committee Standing committee Secretary Deputy secretaries
United Front Political Consultative Conference National Committee Chairman: Wang Yang Vice-Chairpersons Top-ranked: Zhang Qingli Secretary-General: Xia Baolong Political parties: CCP (ruling) United Front Work Department Head: You Quan RCCK CDL CDNCA CAPD CPWDP CZGP JS TDSGL Historical parties: KMT CDSP CYP Federation of Industry and Commerce People's organizations
Ideology Marxism–Leninism Mao Zedong Thought Socialism with Chinese characteristics Deng Xiaoping Theory Primary stage of socialism Four Cardinal Principles Three Represents Scientific Outlook on Development Harmonious Socialist Society Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era Chinese Dream Four Comprehensives
Constitution Law Constitution Previous constitutions 1954 1975 1978 "People's democratic dictatorship" (Article 1) Democratic centralism (Article 3) Constitutional oath of office (Article 27) Protection of human rights (Article 33) Freedom of religion (Article 36) Chinese legal system Civil law tradition Socialist law tradition Laws Legislation Law List of statutes General Principles of the Civil Law (to 2020) Civil Code (From 2021) Marriage Law Labour law Labour Law Labour Contract Law Property law Property Law Intellectual property law Patent law Administrative law Administrative Procedure Law Criminal law Capital punishment Capital offences Death sentence with reprieve
Legislative National People's Congress (13th) Members Plenary sessions Voting results Presidium Standing Committee Chairman: Li Zhanshu Vice-Chairpersons Top-ranked: Wang Chen Secretary-General:  [zh] Council of Chairpersons Special committees Ethnic Affairs Constitution and Law Supervisory and Judicial Affairs Financial and Economic Affairs Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Foreign Affairs Overseas Chinese Affairs Environment Protection and Resources Conservation Agriculture and Rural Affairs Social Development Affairs Legislation Law Elections
Presidency President (list): Xi Jinping Presidential spouse: Peng Liyuan Presidential Office Chief: Ding Xuexiang Vice-President: Wang Qishan
Executive State Council (Central People's Government) Li Keqiang Cabinet II Premier (list): Li Keqiang Vice-Premiers (list) Han Zheng Sun Chunlan Hu Chunhua Liu He State Councilors Wei Fenghe Wang Yong Wang Yi Xiao Jie Zhao Kezhi Secretary-General: Xiao Jie Cabinet-level departments National Development & Reform Commission Central bank National Audit Office General Office Secretary-General Deputy Secretary-Generals State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission most Central Enterprises
Military Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman (supreme commander): Xi Jinping Vice-Chairman: Xu Qiliang Zhang Youxia Members: Wei Fenghe Li Zuocheng Miao Hua Zhang Shengmin Departments: General Office Director: Zhong Shaojun Joint Staff Dept. Chief: Li Zuocheng Political Work Dept. Director: Miao Hua Logistic Support Dept. Equipment Development Dept. Training and Administration Dept. National Defense Mobilization Dept. Discipline Inspection Commission Secretary: Zhang Shengmin Strategic Planning Office Reform & Organizational Structure Office Int'l Military Cooperation Office Audit Office Offices Administration Agency National armed forces: People's Liberation Army Theater commands People's Armed Police China Coast Guard Militia State Council National Defense Mobilization Commission Chairman: Li Keqiang Ministry of National Defense Minister: Wei Fenghe Ministry of Veterans Affairs State Administration for Sci., Tech. & Industry for National Defense Military history Armed conflicts Military modernization Military reform since 2015 CMC Leading Group for Military Reform Leader: Xi Jinping
Supervision Corruption in China Anti-corruption campaign since 2012 CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (19th) Secretary: Zhao Leji Deputy Secretaries Yang Xiaodu Zhang Shengmin Liu Jinguo Yang Xiaochao Li Shulei Xu Lingyi Chen Xiaojiang Secretary-General: Yang Xiaochao National Supervisory Commission Director: Yang Xiaodu Central Leading Group for Inspection Work Leader: Zhao Leji Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Central Military Commission Secretary: Zhang Shengmin Independent Commission Against Corruption (Hong Kong) Commission Against Corruption (Macau)
Judiciary Law enforcement CCP Central Politics and Law Commission Secretary: Guo Shengkun Supreme People's Court President: Zhou Qiang People's Courts Judicial Police Supreme People's Procuratorate Prosecutor General: Zhang Jun People's Procuratorates Judicial Police State Council Ministry of Public Security Minister: Zhao Kezhi (State Councilor) Public Security Organs People's Police State Immigration Administration Local public security bureaus Ministry of State Security Minister: Chen Wenqing State Security Organs People's Police Ministry of Justice Minister: Fu Zhenghua Judicial Administrative Organs People's Police  [zh] Office for Safeguarding National Security of the CPG in the HKSAR Urban Management (chengguan) Judiciary of Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal Department of Justice Prosecutions Division Law enforcement in Hong Kong Security Bureau Regular Disciplined Services Hong Kong Police Force Judiciary of Macau Court of Final Appeal Secretariat for Security Macau Security Force  [zh] Public Security Police  [zh]
Propaganda Central Leading Group for Propaganda and Ideology Leader: Wang Huning Central Guidance Commission on Building Spiritual Civilization Director: Wang Huning Deputy Director: Huang Kunming Central Propaganda Department Head: Huang Kunming National Press and Publication Administration China Film Administration [zh] State Council Information Office China Daily Ministry of Culture and Tourism National Radio and Television Administration China Media Group China Central Television China Global Television Network China National Radio China Radio International Xinhua News Agency Reference News China News Service People's Daily Global Times China Today Censorship in China Radio jamming Overseas censorship of Chinese issues Media of China Internal media Publishing industry in China Internet in China Internet censorship Great Firewall Great Cannon Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission Director: Xi Jinping Deputy director: Li Keqiang Cyberspace Administration of China Director: Xu Lin
Hong Kong Macau Central Leading Group on Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Leader: Han Zheng HK & Macau Affairs Office Director: Zhang Xiaoming Liaison Office in Hong Kong Liaison Office in Macau One country, two systems Special administrative regions Hong Kong Basic Law Chief Executive: Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor Hong Kong SAR Government Politics of Hong Kong Independence movement Mainland & HK CEPA Macao Basic Law Chief Executive: Chui Sai On Macau SAR Government Politics of Macau Mainland & Macau CEPA
Cross-Strait relations Cross-Strait relations Chinese Civil War One-China policy Political status of Taiwan Republic of China on Taiwan Taiwan Area "Taiwan Province", PRC Taiwan independence movement Anti-Secession Law Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement Chinese unification Central Leading Group for Taiwan Affairs Leader: Xi Jinping Deputy Leader: Wang Yang Taiwan Affairs Office Director: Zhang Zhijun Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
Foreign relations Central Foreign Affairs Commission Director: Xi Jinping Deputy Director: Li Keqiang Secretary-General: Yang Jiechi Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Wang Yi (State Councilor) Spokespersons Diplomatic missions Diplomatic missions of China / in China Foreign aid from China / to China International Development Cooperation Agency Ministry of Commerce Exim Bank of China China Development Bank Belt and Road Initiative Silk Road Fund Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank BRICS New Development Bank Ministry of National Defense International Military Cooperation Office NPC Foreign Affairs Committee CCP International Liaison Department State Council Information Office State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs Overseas Chinese Affairs Office Chinese nationality law Chinese passports (Hong Kong; Macau) Visa requirements for Chinese citizens (Hong Kong, Macau) Visa policy of China (Hong Kong; Macau) National Immigration Administration Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence Panda diplomacy Beijing Consensus Sino-British Joint Declaration One country, two systems China and the United Nations China and the World Trade Organization Shanghai Cooperation Organisation China–Africa relations China–Caribbean relations China–European Union relations China–Latin America relations China–Pacific relations China–Russia relations China–United States relations
Related topics Administrative divisions Hukou system Family planning Ethnic minorities Communism
China portal Other countries
v t

The chairman of the Central Military Commission (Chinese: 中央军事委��会主席) is the head of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The officeholder is usually the CCP General Secretary.

According to Chapter 3, Section 4 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, "The Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China directs the armed forces of the country. The Central Military Commission is composed of the following: The Chairman; The Vice-Chairmen; and Members".^[1] The term of office of the Central Military Commission is the same as that of the National People's Congress. Two people currently serve as Vice Chairmen.

The CMC Chairman is the supreme commander of the world's largest military forces, People's Liberation Army, People's Armed Police and People's Liberation Army militia. Furthermore, the officeholder is vested with the command authority over the nuclear arsenals.

According to the principle of "黨指揮槍" lit. 'Party Commands the Gun', the holder of this post would also assume the responsibility of the state counterpart.

List of chairmen[]

This section does not cite any sources. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (August 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Party[]

The following have held the position of Chair of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party:

No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Head of the Military Department
1		Zhang Guotao (1897–1979)	December 1925	September 1926	9 months
Secretary of the Central Military Commission
2		Zhou Enlai (1898–1976)	September 1926	October 1928	2 years, 1 month
Head of the Military Department
3		Yang Yin (1892–1929)	October 1928	September 1929	11 months
(2)		Zhou Enlai (1898–1976)	September 1929	March 1930	6 months
Secretary of the Central Military Commission
4		Guan Xiangying (1902–1946)	March 1930	August 1930	5 months
(2)		Zhou Enlai (1898–1976)	August 1930	June 1931	10 months
Head of the Military Department
5		Li Fuchun (1900–1975)	June 1931	January 1932	7 months
Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Soviet Republic
6		Xiang Ying (c. 1895–1941)	January 1932	October 1932	9 months
7		Zhu De (1886–1976)	October 1932	December 1936	4 years, 2 months
8		Mao Zedong (1893–1976)	December 1936	October 1949	12 years, 10 months
Abolished October 1949 – September 1954
Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party
8		Mao Zedong (1893–1976)	8 September 1954	9 September 1976 †	22 years
9		Hua Guofeng (1921–2008)	7 October 1976	28 June 1981	4 years, 8 months
10		Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997)	28 June 1981	9 November 1989	8 years, 5 months
11		Jiang Zemin (born 1926)	9 November 1989	19 September 2004	14 years, 10 months
12		Hu Jintao (born 1942)	19 September 2004	15 November 2012	8 years, 1 month
13		Xi Jinping (born 1953)	15 November 2012	Incumbent	9 years, 2 months

State[]

The following have held the position of Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China:

No.	Portrait	Name (birth–death)	Term of office
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Chairman of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's Government
1		Mao Zedong (1893–1976)	1 October 1949	27 September 1954	4 years, 11 months
Chairman of the People's Republic of China & Chairman of the National Defense Council
1		Mao Zedong (1893–1976)	27 September 1954	27 April 1959	4 years, 7 months
2		Liu Shaoqi (1898–1969)	27 April 1959	31 October 1968	9 years, 6 months
Vacant October 1968 – January 1975
Abolished January 1975 – December 1982
Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China
3		Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997)	6 June 1983	19 March 1990	6 years, 9 months
4		Jiang Zemin (born 1926)	19 March 1990	8 March 2005	14 years, 11 months
5		Hu Jintao (born 1942)	8 March 2005	14 March 2013	8 years
6		Xi Jinping (born 1953)	14 March 2013	Incumbent	8 years, 10 months

See also[]

• List of leaders of the People's Republic of China
• Supreme Military Command of the People's Republic of China
• Paramount leader

References[]