Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang


The Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, commonly abbreviated in Chinese as Minge, is one of the eight minor political parties in the People's Republic of China, officially termed "democratic parties," under the direction of the Chinese Communist Party.
It was founded in January 1948, during the height of the Chinese Civil War, by members of the left-wing of the Kuomintang, especially those who were against Chiang Kai-shek's policies. The first chairman of the party was General Li Jishen, a senior Nationalist military commander who had many disputes with Chiang over the years, while Soong Ching-ling was named Honorary Chairwoman. Other early leading members were Wang Kunlun, Cheng Qian, He Xiangning and Tao Zhiyue. In 1949, it merged with the Three Principles of the People Comrades Association and the Kuomintang Democratic Promotion Association. The party claims to be the true heir of Sun Yat-sen's legacy and his Three Principles of the People. In December 2022, the party had around 158,000 members. Its membership mostly consists of people with historical ties to the KMT and Taiwan. It owns a significant amount of property originally held by the KMT before the Communist takeover.
Among the official political parties of the People's Republic of China, the Revolutionary Committee is officially ranked second after the CCP, being the first-ranking minor party. The RCCK currently has 41 seats in the National People's Congress, six seats in the NPC Standing Committee and 65 seats in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. Its current chairman is Zheng Jianbang.

History

After the end of World War II, the relationship between the Kuomintang and the CCP, who had allied to fight the Japanese, became increasingly tense; ultimately, both sides restarted the civil war, which World War II had interrupted. In 1945 and 1946, members of the Kuomintang's left formed the Three Principles of the People Comrades Association and the Kuomintang Democratic Promotion Association in Chongqing and Guangzhou, respectively.
In November 1947, the first joint representative meeting of the Kuomintang left was held in Hong Kong; on 1 January 1948, the meeting announced the official establishment of the "Chinese Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee", and nominated Soong Ching-ling, the widow of Sun Yat-sen, as the Honorary Chairwoman of the Revolutionary Committee. Chairman Li Jishen, He Xiangning, and Feng Yuxiang were selected as the central leadership of the organization.
On 5 May 1948, leaders of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, including Li Jishen and He Xiangning, together with representatives of other democratic parties and non-party figures, jointly issued a public telegram expressing their support for the call of the Chinese Communist Party and their acceptance of its leadership. This was met with a reply of welcome from Mao Zedong, Chairman of the CCP Central Committee.
Subsequently, the leadership of the RCCK gradually moved north to the liberated areas of Northeast China, and after February 1949 convened in Beiping, where they took part in the preparatory work for the new Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. In September 1949, representatives of the RCCK attended the First plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, participating in the drafting of the Common Program and in the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

People's Republic of China

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in October 1949, members of the Chinese Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee maintained positions in the municipal and central governments. In November 1949, the second congress of the Chinese Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee was held in Beijing. At the second congress, the Chinese Kuomintang Revolutionary Committee, Chinese Nationalist Democratic Promotion Association, the Comrades of the Three Peoples Principles, and other members of the Kuomintang's left wing agreed to merge and form the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang. The meeting also elected the Second Central Committee, with Li Jishen elected as chairman.
From February 21 to 29, 1956, the Third National Congress of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Third Central Committee. On March 5, the First Plenary Session of the Third Central Committee took place, during which Li Jishen was re-elected as chairman. From November 12 to December 2, 1958, the Fourth National Congress of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Fourth Central Committee. On December 4, the First Plenary Session of the Fourth Central Committee was held, and Li Jishen was once again elected chairman.
From October 11 to 22, 1979, the Fifth National Congress of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Fifth Central Committee. On October 23, the First Plenary Session of the Fifth Central Committee took place, and Zhu Yunshan was elected chairman. From December 21 to 30, 1983, the Sixth National Congress of the RCCK was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Sixth Central Committee. On December 28, the First Plenary Session of the Sixth Central Committee was held, and Wang Kunlun was elected chairman. From November 12 to 20, 1988, the Seventh National Congress of the RCCK was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Seventh Central Committee. On November 19, the First Plenary Session of the Seventh Central Committee took place, and Zhu Xuefan was elected chairman.
From December 14 to 22, 1992, the Eighth National Congress of the RCCK was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Eighth Central Committee. On December 22, the First Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee was held, and Li Peiyao was elected chairman. From November 24 to 30, 1997, the RCCK held its 50th Anniversary Commemorative Congress and the Ninth National Congress in Beijing. The congress elected the Ninth Central Committee. On November 29, the First Plenary Session of the Ninth Central Committee was held, and He Luli was elected chairman.
From December 3 to 9, 2002, the Tenth National Congress of the RCCK was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Tenth Central Committee. On December 8, the First Plenary Session of the Tenth Central Committee took place, and He Luli was re-elected chairman. From December 9 to 15, 2007, the Eleventh National Congress of the RCCK, coinciding with its 60th Anniversary Commemorative Congress, was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Eleventh Central Committee. On December 14, the First Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee was held, and Zhou Tienong was elected chairman.
From December 12 to 18, 2012, the Twelfth National Congress of the RCCK was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Twelfth Central Committee. On December 17, the First Plenary Session of the Twelfth Central Committee took place, and Wan Exiang was elected chairman. From December 20 to 24, 2017, the Thirteenth National Congress of the RCCK was held in Beijing. The congress elected the Thirteenth Central Committee. On December 23, the First Plenary Session of the Thirteenth Central Committee was held, and Wan Exiang was re-elected chairman.
Today, the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang focuses on improving relations with the Kuomintang on Taiwan, and its membership mainly consists of the descendants of Kuomintang revolutionaries. It recruits members with current ties to Taiwan who support Chinese unification.

Organization

The RCCK is one of the eight minor so-called "democratic parties" under the leadership of the CCP. The highest body of the RCCK officially is the National Congress, which is held every five years. The 14th National Congress, held in December 2022, was the most recently held party congress. The National Congress elects the Central Committee of the RCCK.
According to its constitution, the RCCK is officially committed to socialism with Chinese characteristics, Chinese unification and upholding the leadership of the CCP. Among the official political parties of the PRC, the RCCK is officially ranked second after the CCP, being the first-ranking minor party.

Central Committee

The Central Committee of the RCCK is the highest body of the RCCK between National Congresses. It has six working departments:
The Central Committee additionally owns the newspapers Unity Daily and Unity. The Central Committee is headed by a chairperson, who is assisted by several vice chairpersons. The current leaders of the RCCK are:

RCCK Central Committee Chairman

According to the State Council Information Office, the RCCK consists "mainly of people who have links with the KMT, have historical and social connections with the committee, or have relationships with Taiwan compatriots, along with specialists in social and legal affairs, and in business relating to agriculture, rural areas, and rural people". In December 2022, the party had around 158,000 members.

Historical leaders

Chairpersons of the Central Committee

Honorary Chairpersons of the Central Committee

  1. Song Qingling, 1948–1949
  2. Qu Wu, 1988–1992
  3. Zhu Xuefan, 1992–1996
  4. Hou Jingru, 1992–1994
  5. Sun Yueqi, 1992–1995