List of Presidents of China

This is a list of the Presidents of China since 1912.

List of Presidents of the ROC (since 1912)

This is a list of the Presidents of the Republic of China (1912–present). The Republic of China is now commonly known as "Taiwan" due to the Taiwan currently making up almost all of its de facto territory. The Republic of China President is called 總統 (zǒngtǒng), and from 1912–1928, 大總統 (dàzǒngtǒng).

All the names on this list follow the Oriental convention with the family name first and given name second.

List of Presidents of the Republic of China 

  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		Sun Yat-sen 孫文 Sūn Wén (1866–1925)	1 January 1912	10 March 1912	Tongmenghui	Li Yuanhong
			1911
			The first President of the Provisional Government
2		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
1		Yuan Shikai 袁世凱 Yuán Shìkǎi (1859–1916)	10 October 1913	6 June 1916[lower-alpha 1]	Beiyang clique	Li Yuanhong
			Died in office.
2		Li Yuanhong 黎元洪 Lí Yuánhóng (1864–1928)	7 June 1916	17 July 1917[lower-alpha 2]	Progressive Party	Feng Guozhang
3		Feng Guozhang 馮國璋 Féng Guózhāng (1859–1919)	17 July 1917	10 October 1918	Zhili clique	vacant
4		Xu Shichang 徐世昌 Xú Shìchāng (1855–1939)	10 October 1918	2 June 1922	Anhui clique	vacant
—		Zhou Ziqi 周自齊 Zhōu Zìqí (1871–1923)	2 June 1922	11 June 1922	Communications Clique	vacant
5		Li Yuanhong 黎元洪 Lí Yuánhóng (1864–1928)	11 June 1922	13 June 1923	Research Clique	vacant
—		Gao Lingwei 高凌霨 Gāo Língwèi (1868–1939)	14 June 1923	10 October 1923	Non-partisan	vacant
6		Cao Kun 曹錕 Cáo Kūn (1862–1938)	10 October 1923	2 November 1924	Zhili clique	vacant
—		Huang Fu 黃郛 Huáng Fú (1883–1936)	2 November 1924	24 November 1924	Non-partisan	vacant
7		Duan Qirui 段祺瑞 Duàn Qíruì (1865–1936) [lower-alpha 3]	24 November 1924	20 April 1926	Anhui clique	vacant
—		Hu Weide 胡惟德 Hú Wéidé (1863–1933)	20 April 1926	13 May 1926	Non-partisan	vacant
—		W.W. Yan Yan Huiqing 顏惠慶 Yán Huìqìng (1877–1950)	13 May 1926	22 June 1926	Non-partisan	vacant
—		Du Xigui 杜錫珪 Dù Xīguī (1875–1933)	22 June 1926	1 October 1926	Zhili clique	vacant
—		Wellington Koo Koo Vi-kyuin 顧維鈞 Gù Wéijūn (1887–1985)	1 October 1926	17 June 1927	Non-partisan	vacant
8		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
1		Tan Yankai 譚延闓 Tán Yánkǎi (1880–1930)	7 February 1928	10 October 1928	Kuomintang	vacant
2		Chiang Kai-shek 蔣中正 Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng (1887–1975)	10 October 1928	15 December 1931	Kuomintang	vacant
3		Lin Sen 林森 Lín Sēn (1868–1943)	15 December 1931	1 August 1943	Kuomintang	vacant
			Died in office.
4		Chiang Kai-shek 蔣中正 Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng (1887–1975)	1 August 1943	20 May 1948	Kuomintang	vacant

Presidents after the 1947 Constitution

• period: 20 May 1948 – 20 May 1996

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Political Party	Vice President
1		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 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.
1		Chiang Kai-shek 蔣中正 Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng (1887–1975)	1 March 1950	5 April 1975	Kuomintang	Li Zongren (1950–1954) Chen Cheng[lower-alpha 4](1954–1965) vacant (1965–1966) Yen Chia-kan (1966–1975)
			Defeated on the mainland; moved the government to Taipei. Died in office.
2		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, Yan succeeded to the Presidency on Chiang's death and completed Chiang's term.
3		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. Ended martial law. Died in office.
4		Lee Teng-hui 李登輝 Lǐ Dēnghuī (1923– )	13 January 1988	20 May 1996	Kuomintang	vacant (1988–1990) Li Yuan-zu (1990–1996)
			As Vice-President under Chiang Ching-kuo, Yan succeeded to 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
4		Lee Teng-hui 李登輝 Lǐ Dēnghuī (1923– )	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.
5		Chen Shui-bian 陳水扁 Chén Shuǐbiǎn (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.
6		Ma Ying-jeou 馬英九 Mǎ Yīngjiǔ (1950– )	20 May 2008	20 May 2016	Kuomintang	Vincent Siew (2008–2012) Wu Den-yih (2012– )
			2008 7,658,724 (58.45%) 2012 6,891,139 (51.60%)
			Minister of Justice (1993–1996), Mayor of Taipei (1998–2006).
7		Tsai Ing-wen 蔡英文 Cài Yīngwén (1956– )	20 May 2016	Incumbent	Democratic Progressive Party	Chen Chien-jen
			2016 6,894,744 (56.1%)
			Vice Premier (2006–2007).

List of Presidents of the PRC (since 1949)

This is a list of all the Chairmen 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.

List of Presidents of the People's Republic of China 

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

• Mao Zedong (1 October 1949 – 27 September 1954)

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 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		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 宋庆龄 (1893–1981) Shanghai At-large	Dong Biwu 董必武 (1886–1975) Hubei At-large	31 October 1968	24 February 1972 (Song) 17 January 1975 (Dong)	III	Vacancy by ascension	Mao Zedong
				Both Soong Ching-ling and Dong Biwu co-served as acting chairman 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 National People's Congress

• Zhu De (17 January 1975 – 6 July 1976) died in office
• Soong Ching-ling (6 July 1976 – 5 March 1978) acting
• Ye Jianying (5 March 1978 – 5 March 1978)

The 3rd Constitution (1978–1982)

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

• Ye Jianying (5 March 1978 – 16 May 1981)

Honorary President of the People's Republic China

Portrait		Name (Birth–Death) Constituency	Term of office		NPC	Vice President	Paramount leader
–		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 female Vice-President of the People's Republic of China. Soong Ching-ling is also the first and only Honorary President of the People's Republic of China.

Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

• Ye Jianying (28 May 1981 – 18 June 1983)

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 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		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 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 Mayor of Shanghai (1985–1989), Chairman of the Central Military Commission of China (1990–2005).
6		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 Vice President (1998–2003), Chairman of the Central Military Commission (2005-2013).
7		Xi Jinping 习近平 (1953– ) Shanghai At-large	14 March 2013	Incumbent	XII	Li Yuanchao	Himself
			The fifth President under the 4th Constitution of the People's Republic of China. Served as Vice President (2008–2013).

Notes

1. Restored the monarchy 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. 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. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
5. World Savvy Monitor: China and the World - A foreign policy overview