Politburo of the Communist Party of China

Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China 中国共产党中央政治局
Leadership
Status	Executive CPC body between the Standing Committee and Central Committee, Communist Party of China
Leader of the Party	Xi Jinping, General Secretary
1st-ranked member	Xi Jinping
Elected by	the Central Committee
Responsible to	the Central Committee
Seats	25

Politburo of the Communist Party of China
Simplified Chinese	中国共产党中央政治局
Traditional Chinese	中國共產黨中央政治局
Literal meaning	China Communist Party Central Political Bureau
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhōngguó Gòngchǎndǎng Zhōngyāng Zhèngzhìjú
Politburo
Chinese	政治局
Literal meaning	Political Bureau
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhèngzhìjú

The Central Politburo of the Communist Party of China formally Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, formerly known as Central Bureau (中央局) before 1927, is a group of 25 people who oversee the Communist Party of China. Unlike politburos (political bureaus) of other Communist parties, power within the politburo is centralized in the Politburo Standing Committee. The Politburo is nominally elected by the Central Committee.

The power of the Politburo resides largely in the fact that its members generally simultaneously hold positions within the People's Republic of China state positions and with the control over personnel appointments that the Politburo and Secretariat have. In addition, some Politburo members hold powerful regional positions. How the Politburo works internally is unclear, but it appears that the full Politburo meets once a month and the standing committee meets weekly. This is believed to be much more infrequent than the former Soviet Politburo had met. The agenda for the meetings appears to be controlled by the General Secretary and decisions are made by consensus rather than by majority vote.

The Politburo was eclipsed by the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee in the early 1980s under Hu Yaobang, but has re-emerged as a dominant force after Hu's ousting in 1987.

Current (18th) Politburo members

The 18th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee on November 15, 2012, consisting of 25 members.

In stroke order of surnames:

• Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the People's Republic of China, 1st-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee,
• Ma Kai, Vice Premier
• Wang Qishan, 6th-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
• Wang Huning, Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee
• Liu Yunshan, 5th-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, Top-ranked Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat, Chairman of the Central Guidance Commission for Building Spiritual Civilization, President of the Central Party School
• Liu Yandong, Vice Premier
• Liu Qibao, Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat, Head of the CPC Propaganda Department
• Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
• Sun Chunlan, head of the CPC United Front Work Department, former party chief of Tianjin
• Sun Zhengcai, Party chief of Chongqing
• Li Keqiang, 2nd-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, Premier of the People's Republic of China
• Li Jianguo, Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General oft the National People's Congress
• Li Yuanchao, Vice President of the People's Republic of China
• Wang Yang, Vice Premier
• Zhang Chunxian, Party chief of Xinjiang
• Zhang Gaoli, 7th-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, First-ranked Vice Premier
• Zhang Dejiang, 3rd-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
• Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
• Meng Jianzhu, Head of the Central Politics and Law Commission of the Communist Party of China
• Zhao Leji, Secretary of the CPC Central Secretariat, Head of the CPC Organization Department
• Hu Chunhua, Party chief of Guangdong
• Yu Zhengsheng, 4th-ranked member of Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
• Li Zhanshu, Secretary of CPC Central Secretariat, Chief of the General Office of the Communist Party of China
• Guo Jinlong, Party chief of Beijing
• Han Zheng, Party chief of Shanghai

Historical membership of the Politburo

7th Politburo (1945-1956)

The 7th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 7th Central Committee on June 19, 1945, consisting of 13 members.

Members:

• Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Party Central Committee
• Zhu De
• Liu Shaoqi
• Zhou Enlai
• Ren Bishi, Secretary-General of the Party Central Committee (died in October, 1950)
• Chen Yun
• Kang Sheng
• Gao Gang (fell from power in February, 1954; died in August, 1954)
• Peng Zhen
• Dong Biwu
• Lin Boqu
• Zhang Wentian
• Peng Dehuai

Members elected at the 5th Plenary Session of the 7th Central Committee in April, 1955:

• Lin Biao
• Deng Xiaoping, Secretary-General of the Party Central Committee

8th Politburo (1956-1969)

The 8th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee on September 28, 1956, consisting of 17 members and 6 alternate members.

Members:

• Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Liu Shaoqi, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee until August, 1966; member of the Politburo Standing Committee (fell from power in January, 1967; dismissed in October, 1968)
• Zhou Enlai, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee until August, 1966; member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Zhu De, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee until August, 1966; member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Chen Yun, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee until August, 1966; member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Deng Xiaoping, General Secretay of the Party Central Committee until August, 1966; member of the Politburo Standing Committee (fell from power in January, 1967)
• Lin Biao, elected Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee in May, 1958
• Lin Boqu (died in May, 1960)
• Dong Biwu
• Peng Zhen (fell from power in May, 1966)
• Luo Ronghuan (died in December, 1963)
• Chen Yi
• Li Fuchun, elected member of the Politburo Standing Committee in August, 1966
• Peng Dehuai (fell from power in August, 1959)
• Liu Bocheng
• He Long (fell from power in September, 1967)
• Li Xiannian

Alternate members:

• Ulanhu (fell from power in August, 1966)
• Zhang Wentian (fell from power in August, 1959)
• Lu Dingyi (fell from power in May, 1966)
• Chen Boda (until August, 1966)
• Kang Sheng (until August, 1966)
• Bo Yibo (fell from power in January, 1967)

Members elected at the 5th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee in May, 1958:

• Ke Qingshi (died in April, 1965)
• Li Jingquan (fell from power in January, 1967)
• Tan Zhenlin (fell from power in August, 1967)

Members elected at the 11th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee in August, 1966:

• Tao Zhu, elected at the same time member of the Politburo Standing Committee (fell from power in January, 1967)
• Chen Boda, elected at the same time member of the Politburo Standing Committee (previously alternate member)
• Kang Sheng, elected at the same time member of the Politburo Standing Committee (previously alternate member)
• Xu Xiangqian
• Nie Rongzhen
• Ye Jianying

Alternate embers elected at the 11th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee in August, 1966:

• Li Xuefeng
• Xie Fuzhi
• Song Renqiong (fell from power in August, 1967)

During the Cultural Revolution, the Politburo ceased to function between March, 1967 and April, 1969.

9th Politburo (1969-1973)

The 9th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 9th Central Committee on April 28, 1969, consisting of 21 members and 4 alternate members.

Members:

• Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Lin Biao, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee (died in September, 1971)
• Zhou Enlai, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Chen Boda, member of the Politburo Standing Committee (fell from power in September, 1970; dismissed in August, 1973)
• Kang Sheng, member of the Politburo Standing Committee

Others in stroke order of surnames:

• Ye Qun (died in September, 1971)
• Ye Jianying
• Liu Bocheng
• Jiang Qing
• Zhu De
• Xu Shiyou
• Chen Xilian
• Li Xiannian
• Li Zuopeng (fell from power in September, 1971; dismissed in August, 1973)
• Wu Faxian (fell from power in September, 1971; dismissed in August, 1973)
• Zhang Chunqiao
• Qiu Huizuo (fell from power in September, 1971; dismissed in August, 1973)
• Yao Wenyuan
• Huang Yongsheng (fell from power in September, 1971; dismissed in August, 1973)
• Dong Biwu
• Xie Fuzhi (died in March, 1972)

Alternate members:

• Ji Dengkui
• Li Xuefeng (fell from power in January, 1971; dismissed in August, 1973)
• Li Desheng
• Wang Dongxing

10th Politburo (1973-1977)

The 10th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 10th Central Committee on August 30, 1973, consisting of 21 members and 4 alternate members.

Members:

• Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee (died in September, 1976)
• Zhou Enlai, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee (died in January, 1976)
• Wang Hongwen, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee (fell from power in October, 1976; dismissed in July, 1977)
• Kang Sheng, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee (died in December, 1975)
• Ye Jianying, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Li Desheng, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee until January, 1975
• Zhu De, member of the Politburo Standing Committee (died in July, 1976)
• Zhang Chunqiao, member of the Politburo Standing Committee (fell from power in October, 1976; dismissed in July, 1977)
• Dong Biwu, member of the Politburo Standing Committee (died in April, 1975)

Others in stroke order of surnames:

• Wei Guoqing
• Liu Bocheng
• Jiang Qing (fell from power in October, 1976; dismissed in July, 1977)
• Xu Shiyou
• Hua Guofeng, appointed First Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee in April, 1976; appointed Chairman of the Party Central Committee in October, 1976
• Ji Dengkui
• Wu De
• Wang Dongxing
• Chen Yonggui
• Chen Xilian
• Li Xiannian
• Yao Wenyuan (fell from power in October, 1976; dismissed in July, 1977)

Alternate members:

• Wu Guixian
• Su Zhenhua
• Ni Zhifu
• Saifuddin Azizi

Member appointed in December, 1973:

• Deng Xiaoping, elected Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee in January, 1975 (dismissed in April, 1976)

Member elected at the 3rd Plenary Session of the 10th Central Committee in July, 1977:

• Deng Xiaoping, elected at the same time Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee

11th Politburo (1977-1982)

The 11th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee on August 19, 1977, consisting of 23 members and 3 alternate members.

Members:

• Hua Guofeng, Chairman of the Party Central Committee until June, 1981; elected Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee in June, 1981; member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Ye Jianying, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Deng Xiaoping, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Li Xiannian, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Wang Dongxing, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee (resigned in February, 1980)

Others in stroke order of surnames:

• Wei Guoqing
• Ulanhu
• Fang Yi
• Liu Bocheng
• Xu Shiyou
• Ji Dengkui (resigned in February, 1980)
• Su Zhenhua (died in February, 1979)
• Li Desheng
• Wu De (resigned in February, 1980)
• Yu Qiuli
• Zhang Tingfa
• Chen Yonggui (fell from power in September, 1980)
• Chen Xilian (resigned in February, 1980)
• Geng Biao
• Nie Rongzhen
• Ni Zhifu
• Xu Xiangqian
• Peng Chong

Alternate members:

• Chen Muhua
• Zhao Ziyang (until September, 1979)
• Saifuddin Azizi

Members elected at the 3rd Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee in December, 1978:

• Chen Yun, elected at the same time Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Deng Yingchao
• Hu Yaobang, appointed Secretary-General of the Party Central Committee in December, 1978; elected General Secretay of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee in February, 1980; elected Chairman of the Party Central Committee in June, 1981
• Wang Zhen

Members elected at the 4th Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee in September, 1979:

• Zhao Ziyang, elected member of the Politburo Standing Committee in February, 1980; elected Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee in June, 1981 (previously alternate member)
• Peng Zhen

12th Politburo (1982-1987)

The 12th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee on September 13, 1982, consisting of 25 members and 3 alternate members.

Members:

• Hu Yaobang, General Secretay of the Party Central Committee until January, 1987; member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Ye Jianying, member of the Politburo Standing Committee (retiring in September, 1985)
• Deng Xiaoping, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Zhao Ziyang, member of the Politburo Standing Committee; appointed Acting General Secretay of the Party Central Committee in January, 1987
• Li Xiannian, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Chen Yun, member of the Politburo Standing Committee

Others in stroke order of surnames:

• Wan Li
• Xi Zhongxun
• Wang Zhen (retiring in September, 1985)
• Wei Guoqing (retiring in September, 1985)
• Ulanhu (retiring in September, 1985)
• Fang Yi
• Deng Yingchao (retiring in September, 1985)
• Li Desheng (retiring in September, 1985)
• Yang Shangkun
• Yang Dezhi
• Yu Qiuli
• Song Renqiong (retiring in September, 1985)
• Zhang Tingfa (retiring in September, 1985)
• Hu Qiaomu
• Nie Rongzhen (retiring in September, 1985)
• Ni Zhifu
• Xu Xiangqian (retiring in September, 1985)
• Peng Zhen
• Liao Chengzhi (died in June, 1983)

Alternate members:

• Yao Yilin (until September, 1985)
• Qin Jiwei
• Chen Muhua

Members elected at the 5th Plenary Session of the 12th Central Committee in September, 1985:

• Tian Jiyun
• Qiao Shi
• Li Peng
• Wu Xueqian
• Hu Qili
• Yao Yilin (previously alternate member)

13th Politburo (1987-1992)

The 13th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee on November 2, 1987, consisting of 17 members and 1 alternate member.

Members:

• Zhao Ziyang, General Secretay of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee (dismissed in June, 1989)
• Li Peng, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Qiao Shi, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Hu Qili, member of the Politburo Standing Committee (dismissed in June, 1989)
• Yao Yilin, member of the Politburo Standing Committee

Others in stroke order of surnames:

• Wan Li
• Tian Jiyun
• Jiang Zemin, elected General Secretay of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee in June, 1989
• Li Tieying
• Li Ruihuan, elected member of the Politburo Standing Committee in June, 1989
• Li Ximing
• Yang Rudai
• Yang Shangkun
• Wu Xueqian
• Song Ping, elected member of the Politburo Standing Committee in June, 1989
• Hu Yaobang (died in April, 1989)
• Qin Jiwei

Alternate member:

• Ding Guangen

14th Politburo (1992-1997)

The 14th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 14th Central Committee on October 19, 1992, consisting of 20 members and 2 alternate members.

Members:

• Jiang Zemin, General Secretay of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Li Peng, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Qiao Shi, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Li Ruihuan, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Zhu Rongji, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Liu Huaqing, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Hu Jintao, member of the Politburo Standing Committee

Others in stroke order of surnames:

• Ding Guangen
• Tian Jiyun
• Li Lanqing
• Li Tieying
• Yang Baibing
• Wu Bangguo
• Zou Jiahua
• Chen Xitong (dismissed in September, 1995)
• Jiang Chunyun
• Qian Qichen
• Wei Jianxing
• Xie Fei
• Tan Shaowen (died in February, 1993)

Alternate members:

• Wen Jiabao
• Wang Hanbin

Member elected at the 4th Plenary Session of the 14th Central Committee in September, 1994:

• Huang Ju

15th Politburo (1997-2002)

The 15th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 15th Central Committee on September 19, 1997, consisting of 22 members and 2 alternate members.

Members:

1. Jiang Zemin, General Secretay of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
2. Li Peng, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
3. Zhu Rongji, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
4. Li Ruihuan, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
5. Hu Jintao, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
6. Wei Jianxing, member of the Politburo Standing Committee

• Li Lanqing, member of the Politburo Standing Committee

Others in stroke order of surnames:

• Ding Guangen
• Tian Jiyun
• Li Changchun
• Li Tieying
• Wu Bangguo
• Wu Guanzheng
• Chi Haotian
• Zhang Wannian
• Luo Gan
• Jiang Chunyun
• Jia Qinglin
• Qian Qichen
• Huang Ju
• Wen Jiabao
• Xie Fei (died in October, 1999)

Alternate members:

• Zeng Qinghong
• Wu Yi

16th Politburo (2002-2007)

The 16th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 16th Central Committee on November 15, 2002, consisting of 24 members and 1 alternate member.

Members:

• Hu Jintao, General Secretay of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Wu Bangguo, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Wen Jiabao, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Jia Qinglin, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Zeng Qinghong, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Huang Ju, member of the Politburo Standing Committee (died in June, 2007)
• Wu Guanzheng, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Li Changchun, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Luo Gan, member of the Politburo Standing Committee

Others in stroke order of surnames:

• Wang Lequan
• Wang Zhaoguo
• Hui Liangyu
• Liu Qi
• Liu Yunshan
• Wu Yi
• Zhang Lichang
• Zhang Dejiang
• Chen Liangyu (dismissed in September, 2006)
• Zhou Yongkang
• Yu Zhengsheng
• He Guoqiang
• Guo Boxiong
• Cao Gangchuan
• Zeng Peiyan

Alternate member:

• Wang Gang

17th Politburo (2007-2012)

The 17th Politburo was elected at the 1st Plenary Session of the 17th Central Committee on October 22, 2007, consisting of 25 members. There have benn no alternate members since.

Members:

• Hu Jintao, General Secretay of the Party Central Committee and member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Wu Bangguo, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Wen Jiabao, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Jia Qinglin, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Li Changchun, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Xi Jinping, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Li Keqiang, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• He Guoqiang, member of the Politburo Standing Committee
• Zhou Yongkang, member of the Politburo Standing Committee

Others in stroke order of surnames:

• Wang Gang
• Wang Lequan
• Wang Zhaoguo
• Wang Qishan
• Hui Liangyu
• Liu Qi
• Liu Yunshan
• Liu Yandong
• Li Yuanchao
• Wang Yang
• Zhang Gaoli
• Zhang Dejiang
• Yu Zhengsheng
• Xu Caihou
• Guo Boxiong
• Bo Xilai (dismissed in April, 2012)

See also

• Politburo Standing Committee
• Central Guard Unit
• Collective leadership

External link s

• "Hu Jintao and the Party Politburo", Winter 2004: Party Affairs, By Alice L. Miller, China Leadership Monitor No. 9
• www.nodulo.org Pictures of the members (Spanish)