List of presidents of China

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This is a list of the presidents of the Republic of China (ROC) and the People's Republic of China (PRC) since 1912.

List of presidents of the ROC (since 1912)[]

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.

  Non-Partisan   Tongmenghui   Beiyang clique, etc.   Progressive   Kuomintang (Nationalist)   Democratic Progressive

Presidents of the Provisional Government
  • period: 1 January 1912 – 10 October 1913
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of Office Political Party Vice President
1 Sunyatsen1.jpg Sun Yat-sen
孫逸仙
Sūn Wén
(1866–1925)
1 January 1912 10 March 1912 Tongmenghui Li Yuanhong
1911
The first President of the Provisional Government
2 YuanShika Colour.jpg Yuan Shikai
袁世凱
Yuán Shìkǎi
(1859–1916)
10 March 1912 10 October 1913 Beiyang clique Li Yuanhong
The second President of the Provisional Government
Presidents of the Beiyang government
  • period: 10 October 1913 – 2 June 1928
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of Office Political Party Vice President
(2) Yuan shikai.jpg Yuan Shikai
袁世凱
Yuán Shìkǎi
(1859–1916)
10 October 1913 6 June 1916[note 1] Beiyang clique Li Yuanhong
Died in office.
Li Yuan-hung Colour.jpg Li Yuanhong
黎元洪
Lí Yuánhóng
(1864–1928)
7 June 1916 17 July 1917[note 2] Progressive Party Feng Guozhang
Acting.
3 Feng Kuo-chang.jpg Feng Guozhang
馮國璋
Féng Guózhāng
(1859–1919)
17 July 1917 10 October 1918 Zhili clique vacant
4 Xu shichang Colour.jpg Xu Shichang
徐世昌
Xú Shìchāng
(1855–1939)
10 October 1918 2 June 1922 Anhui clique vacant
Zhou Ziqi.jpg Zhou Ziqi
周自齊
Zhōu Zìqí
(1871–1923)
2 June 1922 11 June 1922 Communications Clique vacant
Acting.
(3) Li Yuanhong.jpg Li Yuanhong
黎元洪
Lí Yuánhóng
(1864–1928)
11 June 1922 13 June 1923 Research Clique vacant
Kao Lin-wei Colour.jpg Gao Lingwei
高凌霨
Gāo Língwèi
(1868–1939)
14 June 1923 10 October 1923 Non-partisan vacant
Acting.
5 Cao Kun.jpg Cao Kun
曹錕
Cáo Kūn
(1862–1938)
10 October 1923 2 November 1924 Zhili clique vacant
Huang Fu Colour.jpg Huang Fu
黃郛
Huáng Fú
(1883–1936)
2 November 1924 24 November 1924 Non-partisan vacant
Acting.
6 DuanQirui.jpg Duan Qirui
段祺瑞
Duàn Qíruì
(1865–1936)

[note 3]
24 November 1924 20 April 1926 Anhui clique vacant
Hu Weide.jpg Hu Weide
胡惟德
Hú Wéidé
(1863–1933)
20 April 1926 13 May 1926 Non-partisan vacant
Acting.
Yan Huiqing.jpg W.W. Yan
Yan Huiqing

顏惠慶
Yán Huìqìng
(1877–1950)
13 May 1926 22 June 1926 Non-partisan vacant
Acting.
Du Xigui.jpg Du Xigui
杜錫珪
Dù Xīguī
(1875–1933)
22 June 1926 1 October 1926 Zhili clique vacant
Acting.
Wellington Koo 1945.jpg Wellington Koo
Koo Vi-kyuin

顧維鈞
Gù Wéijūn
(1887–1985)
1 October 1926 17 June 1927 Non-partisan vacant
Acting.
7 Zhang Zuolin3.jpg Zhang Zuolin
張作霖
Zhāng Zuòlín
(1875–1928)
18 June 1927 2 June 1928 Fengtian clique vacant
Zhang was the Generalissimo of the Beiyang Military Government instead of President.
Chairmen of the Nationalist Government
  • period: 7 February 1928 – 20 May 1948

The head of state of the Nationalist Government (國民政府) in this period (political tutelage,  訓政時期).

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of Office Political Party Vice President
8 Tan Yankai.jpg Tan Yankai
譚延闓
Tán Yánkǎi
(1880–1930)
7 February 1928 10 October 1928 Kuomintang vacant
9 Chiang Kai-shek.jpg Chiang Kai-shek
蔣中正
Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng
(1887–1975)
10 October 1928 15 December 1931 Kuomintang vacant
10 ROC President Lin Sen.jpg Lin Sen
林森
Lín Sēn
(1868–1943)
15 December 1931 1 August 1943 Kuomintang vacant
Died in office.
(9) Chiang Kai-shek.jpg Chiang Kai-shek
蔣中正
Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng
(1887–1975)
1 August 1943 20 May 1948 Kuomintang vacant
Presidents under the 1947 Constitution
  • period: 20 May 1948 – 20 May 1996

The Government of the Republic of China was defeated in the Chinese civil war. With the communist regime declared on Mainland China in October 1949, the de facto territory of the Republic was reduced to Taiwan and its outlying islands and two counties of Fukien Province.

Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of Office Political Party Vice President
(9) Chiang Kai-shek.jpg Chiang Kai-shek
蔣中正
Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng
(1887–1975)
20 May 1948 21 January 1949 Kuomintang Li Zongren
1948
Resigned following a succession of defeats by the Communists in the Chinese Civil War.
Li Zongren4.jpg Li Zongren
李宗仁
Lǐ Zōngrén
(1890–1969)
21 January 1949 1 March 1950 Kuomintang vacant
Acting President on Chiang Kai-shek's resignation. Had an antagonistic relationship with Chiang. After the fall of Guangdong, Li flew to New York and denounced Chiang.
(9) Chiang Kai-shek.jpg Chiang Kai-shek
蔣中正
Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng
(1887–1975)
1 March 1950 5 April 1975 Kuomintang Li Zongren (1950–1954)
Chen Cheng[note 4](1954–1965)
vacant (1965–1966)
Yen Chia-kan (1966–1975)
Defeated on the mainland; moved the government to Taipei. Chiang's government lost recognition by the United Nations on 25 October 1971. Died in office.
11 Yen Chia-kan 1965.jpg C.K. Yen
Yen Chia-kan

嚴家淦
Yán Jiāgàn
(1905–1993)
6 April 1975 20 May 1978 Kuomintang vacant
Premier (1963–1972). As Vice-President under Chiang Kai-shek, Yen succeeded the Presidency on Chiang's death and completed Chiang's term.
12 Chiang Ching-kuo 1948.jpg Chiang Ching-kuo
蔣經國
Jiǎng Jīngguó
(1910–1988)
20 May 1978 13 January 1988 Kuomintang Hsieh Tung-min (1978–1984)
Lee Teng-hui (1984–1988)
Son of Chiang Kai-shek. Launched the Ten Major Construction Projects. Lost recognition by the United States officially on 1 January 1979. Ended martial law. Died in office.
13 Lee Teng-hui 2004-cropped.jpg Lee Teng-hui
李登輝
Lǐ Dēnghuī
(1923–2020)
13 January 1988 20 May 1996 Kuomintang vacant (1988–1990)
Li Yuan-zu (1990–1996)
As Vice-President under Chiang Ching-kuo, Lee succeeded the Presidency on Chiang's death and completed his term. First native Taiwanese President. Oversaw democratic reforms.
Presidents after the introduction of Direct Election
  • period: 20 May 1996 – present
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Term of Office
Electoral mandates
Political Party Vice President
(13) Lee Teng-hui 2004-cropped.jpg Lee Teng-hui
李登輝
Lǐ Dēnghuī
(1923–2020)
20 May 1996 20 May 2000 Kuomintang Lien Chan
1996 5,813,699 (54.0%)
Mayor of Taipei (1978–1981), Governor of Taiwan (1981–1984), Vice President (1984–1988). First president elected by direct election.
14 2007TaipeiInternationalFlowerExhibition ShuibianChen.jpg Chen Shui-bian
陳水扁
Chén Shuǐbiǎn
(born 1950)
20 May 2000 20 May 2008 Democratic Progressive Party Annette Lu
2000 4,977,737 (39.3%)
2004 6,446,900 (50.11%)
Member of the Legislative Yuan for Taipei 1st District (1990–1994), Mayor of Taipei (1994–1998). First Pan-Green and pro-Taiwan independence president.
15 Yingjeou Ma Cropped.jpg Ma Ying-jeou
馬英九
Mǎ Yīngjiǔ
(born 1950)
20 May 2008 20 May 2016 Kuomintang Vincent Siew (2008–2012)
Wu Den-yih (2012–2016)
2008 7,658,724 (58.45%)
2012 6,891,139 (51.60%)
Minister of Justice (1993–1996), Mayor of Taipei (1998–2006).
16 蔡英文官方元首肖像照.png Tsai Ing-wen
蔡英文
Cài Yīngwén
(born 1956)
20 May 2016 Incumbent Democratic Progressive Party Chen Chien-jen (2016–2020)
Lai Ching-te (2020– )
2016 6,894,744 (56.1%)
2020 8,170,231 (57.1%)
Vice Premier (2006–2007).

List of chairmen of the PRC (since 1949)[]

This is a list of all the chairman 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

Central People's Government under the CPPCC Common Program (1949–1954)[]

Chairman of the Central People's Government

The 1st Constitution (1954–1975)[]

Chairman/Chairwoman of the People's Republic China
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency
Term of office NPC Vice Chairman Paramount leader
1 Mao Zedong 1963.jpg 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.
2 LiuShaoqi Colour.jpg 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 1937.jpgDONGBIWU.JPG 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)[]

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)[]

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 5th National People's Congress
Honorary President of the People's Republic China
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency
Term of office NPC Vice President Paramount leader
Soong Ching-ling 1937.jpg Soong Ching-ling
宋庆龄
(1893–1981)
Shanghai At-large
16 May 1981 28 May 1981 V Post not established Deng Xiaoping
The first and only Honorary President of the People's Republic of China.

The 4th Constitution (1982–present)[]

President of the People's Republic China
Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency
Term of office NPC Vice President Paramount leader
3 Li Xiannian - 1974.jpg 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 YangShangkun1958.png 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 St. Petersburg2002.jpg Jiang Zemin
江泽民
(1926– )
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 Communist Party of China (1989-2002), Chairman of the Central Military Commission (1989-2005), Mayor of Shanghai (1985–1989).
6 Hu Jintao Cannes2011.jpg Hu Jintao
胡锦涛
(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 Communist Party of China (2002-2012), Chairman of the Central Military Commission (2004-2013), Vice President (1998–2003).
7 Xi Jinping Sept. 19, 2012.jpg Xi Jinping
习近平
(1953– )
Shanghai At-large
14 March 2013 17 March 2018 XII Li Yuanchao Himself
17 March 2018 Incumbent XIII Wang Qishan
The fifth President under the 4th Constitution of the People's Republic of China. Also serving as General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Served as Vice President (2008–2013).

Notes[]

  1. ^ Declared the Empire of China from 12 December 1915 to 22 March 1916.
  2. ^ Zhang Xun restored Qing Empire from 1 July to 12 July in 1917.
  3. ^ Duan Qirui was the Provisional Chief Executive instead of President.
  4. ^ Chen Cheng, Died on 5 March 1965.

References[]

  1. ^ Anderson, Kurt (7 May 1984). "History Beckons Again". Time. Archived from the original on January 18, 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]
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