Chairman of the Central Military Commission

Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China 中国共产党中央军事委员会主席
Emblem of the Communist Party of China
Incumbent Xi Jinping since 15 November 2012
Appointer	the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Term length	five years
Inaugural holder	Mao Zedong
Formation	1945; 1954
Deputy	Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Website	Chairmanship

Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China 中华人民共和国中央军事委员会主席
National Emblem of the People's Republic of China
Incumbent Xi Jinping since 14 March 2013
Appointer	National People's Congress
Term length	five years
Inaugural holder	Deng Xiaoping
Formation	1982
Deputy	Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Website	Chairmanship

The Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China (Chinese: 中国共产党中央军事委员会主席; pinyin: Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Zhōngyāng Jūnshì Wěiyuánhuì Zhǔxí) has overall responsibility for the Central Military Commission, serving as the Commander-in-chief of the People's Liberation Army. The officeholder is usually General Secretary of the Communist Party of China or Chairman of the Communist Party of China.

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.

List of Chairmen

Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China

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

• Zhang Guotao, December 1925 – September 1926 (as head of the Military Department)
• Zhou Enlai, September 1926 – October 1928 (as secretary of the Central Military Commission)
• Yang Yin, October 1928 – September 1929 (as head of the Military Department)
• Zhou Enlai, September 1929 – March 1930 (as head of the Military Department)
• Guan Xiangying, March 1930 – August 1930 (as secretary of the Central Military Commission)
• Zhou Enlai, August 1930 – June 1931 (as secretary of the Central Military Commission)
• Li Fuchun, June 1931 – January 1932 (as head of the Military Department)
• Xiang Ying, January 1931 – October 1931 (as chairman of the Chinese Soviet Republic CMC)
• Zhu De, October 1931 – December 1936 (as chairman of the Chinese Soviet Republic CMC)
• Mao Zedong, December 1936 – October 1949
  • Abolished, October 1949 – September 1954
• Mao Zedong, September 1954 – September 1976 (also Chairman of the Communist Party of China)
• Hua Guofeng, October 1976 – June 1981 (also Chairman of the Communist Party of China)
• Deng Xiaoping, June 1981 – November 1989
• Jiang Zemin, November 1989 – September 2004 (also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China)
• Hu Jintao, 19 September 2004 – 15 November 2012 (also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China)
• Xi Jinping, 15 November 2012 – Present (also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China)

Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China

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

• Mao Zedong, October 1949 – September 1954 (as chairman of the Central People's Revolutionary Military Commission)
• Mao Zedong, September 1954 – April 1959 (as president and chairman of the National Defense Council)
• Liu Shaoqi, April 1959 – October 1968 (as president and chairman of the National Defense Council)
  • Vacant, October 1968 – January 1975
  • Abolished, January 1975 – December 1982
• Deng Xiaoping, June 1983 – April 1990 (also Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party)
• Jiang Zemin, April 1990 – March 2005 (also Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party)
• Hu Jintao, March 2005 – 14 March 2013 (also Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party)
• Xi Jinping, 14 March 2013 – Present (also Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party)

See also

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

References

1. "Constitution of the People's Republic of China". National People's Congress, People's Republic of China. 2004-03-14. Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. Retrieved 2007-06-23.