This is a list of the heads of state of the Republic of China (ROC) since 1912 and the state representatives of the People's Republic of China (PRC) since 1949.
List of presidents of the Republic (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.
Provisional Government:
Beiyang Government:
Nationalist to Constitutional Government:
Presidents of the Provisional Government No. PortraitNameTerm of office Political partyVice President Assembly(elected) 1 Sun Yat-sen 1 January 1912 10 March 1912 Tongmenghui Li Yuanhong Provisional (1911) 2 Yuan Shikai 10 March 1912 10 October 1913 Beiyang clique Li Yuanhong Provisional (1912) Presidents of the Beiyang Government No. PortraitNameTerm of office Political partyVice President Assembly(elected) 1 Yuan Shikai 10 October 1913 6 June 1916Proclaimed a new empire from 12 December 1915 to 22 March 1916.Died in office. Beiyang clique Li Yuanhong 1st (1913) 2 Li Yuanhong 7 June 1916 17 July 1917Zhang Xun restored Qing Empire from 1 July to 12 July in 1917.Forced out of office. Progressive Party Feng Guozhang — Feng Guozhang(acting)As Vice President. 17 July 1917 10 October 1918 Zhili clique Vacant 3 Xu Shichang 10 October 1918 2 June 1922 Anhui clique Vacant 2nd (1918) — Zhou Ziqi(acting)As Acting Premier. 2 June 1922 11 June 1922 Communications Clique Vacant (2) Li Yuanhong 11 June 1922 13 June 1923 Research Clique Vacant — Gao Lingwei(acting)As Premier. 14 June 1923 10 October 1923 Zhili clique Vacant 4 Cao Kun 10 October 1923 2 November 1924 Zhili clique Vacant 1923 — Huang Fu(acting) 2 November 1924 24 November 1924 Nonpartisan Vacant 5 Duan QiruiProvisional Chief Executive instead of President. 24 November 1924 20 April 1926 Anhui clique Vacant Vacant — Hu WeideActing Provisional Chief Executive instead of Acting President.(acting) 20 April 1926 13 May 1926 Zhili clique Vacant — Yan Huiqing(acting) 13 May 1926 22 June 1926 Nonpartisan Vacant — Du Xigui(acting) 22 June 1926 1 October 1926 Zhili clique Vacant — V.K. Wellington Koo(acting) 1 October 1926 17 June 1927Resigned. Nonpartisan Vacant 6 Zhang ZuolinZhang was the Generalissimo of the Beiyang Military Government instead of President. 18 June 1927 4 June 1928Assassinated. Fengtian clique Vacant Chairmen of the Nationalist Government No. PortraitNameThe Chairman of the Nationalist Government (國民政府) was the head of state in this period (political tutelage; 訓政時期). There was no office of Vice Chairman.Term of office Political partyAssembly(elected) — Tan Yankai 7 February 1928 10 October 1928 Kuomintang 2nd National Congress of Kuomintang(4th plenum) — Chiang Kai-shek 10 October 1928 15 December 1931 Kuomintang 2nd National Congress of Kuomintang(5th plenum) — Lin Sen 15 December 1931Assumed office as acting chairman from 15 December 1931 to 1 January 1932. 1 August 1943 Kuomintang 4th National Congress of Kuomintang(1st plenum) — Chiang Kai-shek 1 August 1943Assumed office as acting chairman from 1 June to 1o October 1943. 20 May 1948 Kuomintang 5th National Congress of Kuomintang(11th plenum) Presidents after the 1947 Constitution No. PortraitNameTerm of office Political partyVice President Term(elected) 1 Chiang Kai-shek 20 May 1948 21 January 1949Declared incapacity. Kuomintang Li Zongren 1 (1948) — Li Zongren 21 January 1949 20 November 1949 Kuomintang Vacant — Yan Xishan 20 November 1949 1 March 1950 Kuomintang Vacant (1) Chiang Kai-shek 1 March 1950 5 April 1975 Kuomintang Li ZongrenVice-President from 1948 to 1954; impeached and recalled in 1954. Vacant 2 (1954) 3 (1960) Vacant Yen Chia-kan 4 (1966) 5 (1972) 2 Yen Chia-kan 5 April 1975 20 May 1978 Kuomintang Vacant 3 Chiang Ching-kuo 20 May 1978 13 January 1988 Kuomintang Hsieh Tung-min 6 (1978) Lee Teng-hui 7 (1984) 4 Lee Teng-hui 13 January 1988 20 May 2000 Kuomintang Vacant Lee Yuan-tsu 8 (1990) Lien Chan 9 (1996) 5 Chen Shui-bian 20 May 2000 20 May 2008 Democratic Progressive Annette Lu 10 (2000) 11 (2004) 6 Ma Ying-jeou 20 May 2008 20 May 2016 Kuomintang Vincent Siew 12 (2008) Wu Den-yih 13 (2012) 7 Tsai Ing-wen 20 May 2016 20 May 2024 Democratic Progressive Chen Chien-jen 14 (2016) William Lai 15 (2020) Lai Ching-te 20 May 2024 Incumbent Democratic Progressive Hsiao Bi-khim 16 (2024)
List of presidents of the People's Republic (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. The presidency was abolished between 1975 and 1982 with the functions of state representative being performed by the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.
To avoid confusion, all the names on this list follow the Oriental convention (family name first, given name second) for consistency.
Generations of leadership
Central People's Government under the 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 PortraitNameTerm of officeNPCVice ChairmanParamount leader 1 Mao Zedong 1954 1959 I Zhu De Himself 2 Liu Shaoqi 1959 1964 II Soong Ching-ling & Dong Biwu(co-serving) Mao Zedong 1964 1968 III – Soong Ching-ling Dong Biwu 1968 1972
1975 III Vacancy by ascension Mao Zedong
The 2nd Constitution (1975–1978)
Chairman/Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the 4th 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 5th National People's Congress Ye Jianying (5 March 1978 – 18 June 1983)
Honorary President of the People's Republic of China PortraitNameTerm of officeNPCVice PresidentParamount leader – Soong Ching-ling 1981 1981 V – Deng Xiaoping
The 4th Constitution (1982–present) President of the People's Republic of China PortraitNameTerm of officeNPCVice PresidentParamount leader 3 Li Xiannian 18 June 1983 8 April 1988 VI Ulanhu Deng Xiaoping 4 Yang Shangkun 8 April 1988 27 March 1993 VII Wang Zhen Deng XiaopingJiang Zemin 5 Jiang Zemin 27 March 1993 15 March 1998 VIII Rong Yiren Himself 15 March 1998 15 March 2003 IX Hu Jintao 6 Hu Jintao 15 March 2003 15 March 2008 X Zeng Qinghong Himself 15 March 2008 14 March 2013 XI Xi Jinping 7 Xi Jinping 14 March 2013 17 March 2018 XII Li Yuanchao Himself 17 March 2018 10 March 2023 XIII Wang Qishan 10 March 2023 Incumbent XIV Han Zheng
See also List of premiers of China
Notes
References