Revolutionary Committee Of The Chinese Kuomintang

The Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK; also commonly known, especially when referenced historically, as the Left Kuomintang or Left Guomindang), commonly abbreviated in Chinese as Minge (), is one of the eight minor democratic parties in the People's Republic of China 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 (KMT), 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 (the widow of Sun Yat-sen) was named Honorary Chairwoman. Other early leading members were Wang Kunlun, Cheng Qian, He Xiangning and Tao Zhiyue. 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.

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. It also owns numerous assets, some formerly owned by the Kuomintang, throughout mainland China. The Revolutionary Committee operates a range of party-owned institutions, such as party schools. The RCCK currently has 41 seats in the National People's Congress, 6 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 Confederation of Comrades 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 (despite Soong Ching-ling never formally joining the commission).

Chairman Li Jishen, He Xiangning, and Feng Yuxiang were selected as the central leadership of the organization. In 1949, Li Jishen and other representatives of the RCCK were invited by the CCP to participate in Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

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.

Soong Ching-ling served as the Vice Chairwoman of the People's Republic of China and Honorary Chairwoman of the People's Republic of China. Li Jishen served as Vice Chairman of the Central People's Government and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

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 and upholding the leadership of the CCP. Among the official political parties of the PRC, the Revolutionary Committee is officially ranked second after the CCP, being the first-ranking minor party.

Central Committee

The Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang is the highest body of the RCCK between National Congresses. It has six working departments:

* General Office
* Organization Department
* Propaganda Department
* Liaison Department
* Social Services Department
* Research Department.

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

* Zheng Jianbang, also a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

RCCK Central Committee Vice Chairpersons

* He Baoxiang (First-ranking)
* Liu Jiaqiang
* Li Huidong
* Tian Hongqi
* Wang Hong
* Feng Gong
* Wu Jing
* Ouyang Zehua
* Gu Zhenchun
* Chen Xingying

Membership

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

# Song Qingling (), 1948–1949
# Qu Wu (), 1988–1992
# Zhu Xuefan (), 1992–1996
# Hou Jingru (), 1992–1994
# Sun Yueqi (), 1992–1995

Chairpersons of provincial committees

* Han Youwen (), Chairman of the Xinjiang Branch until 1998

Electoral history

National People's Congress elections

See also

* Politics of China

References

External links

*

{{Authority control

Political parties established in 1948
Factions in the Kuomintang
Chinese nationalist political parties
Left-wing nationalist parties
Democratic parties of China