SUMMARY

Since the Japanese occupation of China ended in 1945, there have only been two governments in power, both authoritarian. Power was first transferred to the nationalist Chiang Kai-shek and the KMT (Kuomintang) which had held power before the Japanese invasion. The KMT government was not, however, able to wield control over all territory in the country as the alliance with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) immediately broke down and civil war recommenced. In 1949, the KMT were forced to retreat to the island of Taiwan as government power was transferred to the CCP who declared a one-party socialist state led by Mao Tse-Tung.

Despite some periods of struggle within the leadership of the country, Mao remained in power until his death in 1976. In the competition over power that followed, the more pragmatic faction of the party led by Deng Xiaopeng assumed control over government in 1978 and initiated a process of economic liberalization while maintaining an authoritarian political system. Deng resigned from his last party post in 1989 and died in 1997, but the policies he promoted continued under his successors Jiang Zemin (1989-2002), Hu Jintao (2002-2012), and Xi Jinping (2013-).

The politburo of the Chinese Communist Party remains the central decision-maker for the government of China, and it maintains close control over the military. Indeed, the so-called People’s Liberation Army was originally called the “Red Army” as the armed wing of the CCP. The PLA was originally directed by the Party CMC (Central Military Commission), but since the 1982 Constitution, the CMC was designated as both a party and state entity. In effect, the army remained controlled by the communist party even thought the CMC became integrated in the state administration. The CMC also controls the arms production, military education, and also has some authority over the paramilitary police forces.

The government of China has been involved in the interstate, intrastate and one-sided categories of UCDP organised violence.