Chairman of the Central Military Commission

Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Post	Chairman of the Central Military Commission
Body	the People's Republic of China
Insignia	National Emblem of the People's Republic of China.svg
Insigniasize	120
Insigniacaption	National Emblem
Incumbent	Xi Jinping
Incumbentsince	14 March 2013
Department	Central Military Commission
Style	Mr. Chairman (informal)
Member of	Central Military Commission, Politburo Standing Committee, National Security Commission of the Chinese Communist Party
Reports to	National People's Congress, Communist Party of China
Seat	Zhongnanhai, Beijing
Appointer	National People's Congress
Termlength	Five years, renewable
Constituting instrument	Constitution of the People's Republic of China
Formation	28 September 1954
First	Mao Zedong

Chairman of the Central Military Commission is the supreme commander of the People's Liberation Army and the head of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China. The position is constitutionally the highest military office in the state, with the incumbent also typically serving as the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party and the paramount leader of the nation. The Chairman exercises command over the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, People's Liberation Army Navy, People's Liberation Army Air Force, People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, and the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force.

History

The office was formally established by the 1954 Constitution of the People's Republic of China, with Mao Zedong serving as the first Chairman, concurrently holding the positions of President of the People's Republic of China and Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. During the Cultural Revolution, the role's authority was deeply intertwined with Mao's personal leadership over the People's Liberation Army. Following Mao's death, Deng Xiaoping became the paramount leader and served as Chairman, using the position to consolidate military support for his economic reforms and to assert control after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. The post was held by Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao during their respective tenures as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, with the current Chairman, Xi Jinping, assuming the role in 2013 and subsequently overseeing a comprehensive modernization drive known as the Chinese military reform.

Role and Responsibilities

The Chairman serves as the commander-in-chief of the nation's armed forces, representing the People's Republic of China in military affairs. Key responsibilities include presiding over the Central Military Commission, directing national defense and military development strategies, and approving major military appointments. The Chairman is responsible for implementing the military directives of the Chinese Communist Party and the decisions of the National People's Congress, often articulating defense policy at major forums like the National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. The office also plays a critical role in managing crises, such as tensions in the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea dispute, and in authorizing military operations, including United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Powers and Authority

The Chairman's authority is derived from the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party Charter, granting supreme command over all military operations and personnel. This includes the power to declare a state of war, issue mobilization orders, and award military honors like the Order of August the First. The Chairman approves promotions to the highest ranks of the People's Liberation Army, such as General, and has final say on the deployment of strategic assets, including the DF-41 missile system. The office also controls the People's Armed Police through the commission and shapes the defense industrial base, influencing projects like the Chengdu J-20 and Type 055 destroyer.

Selection and Appointment

The Chairman is formally elected by the National People's Congress for a five-year term, coinciding with the congressional session, with no constitutional term limits. In practice, the selection is determined by the Chinese Communist Party, specifically the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, with the candidate invariably being the incumbent General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party. The appointment is ratified during the annual National People's Congress sessions in Beijing, following deliberations by the Presidium of the National People's Congress. The process was exemplified by the transitions from Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping at the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party.

List of Chairmen

* Mao Zedong (1954–1976) * Hua Guofeng (1976–1981) * Deng Xiaoping (1981–1989) * Jiang Zemin (1989–2004) * Hu Jintao (2004–2012) * Xi Jinping (2013–present)

Organizational Structure

The Chairman leads the Central Military Commission, which includes several Vice Chairmen and commission members overseeing distinct departments. Key subordinate bodies include the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, and the Logistics Support Department of the Central Military Commission. The commission directly commands the five service branches and coordinates with the Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China for administrative functions. The Chairman's office is supported by the General Office of the Central Military Commission and maintains a critical relationship with the National Security Commission of the Chinese Communist Party and the Central Guard Bureau.

Category:Chairmen of the Central Military Commission Category:Military of China Category:National security of China