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SCMP China Series

China’s Communist Party: everything you need to know

The Communist Party of China will mark its 100th anniversary in July. In this series of explainers, the South China Morning Post looks into the past, present and future of the world’s second-largest political party.

Updated: 01 Jul, 2021
Communist Party of China at a museum in Beijing. Photo: AFP
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[1]

Explainer | What is the most powerful position in China’s Communist Party?

The influence of the general secretary has waxed and waned over the decades as the leadership structure has changed.

08 May, 2021
The role of general secretary was introduced in 1925. Photo: AP
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[2]

Explainer | How is China’s Communist Party structured?

The Communist Party influences and oversees almost every aspect of life in China, from the government to the army, society and business.

11 May, 2021
Delegates applaud as China's President Xi Jinping arrives for the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5, 2021. Photo: AFP
[3]

Explainer | Why China’s Communist Party maintains a tight grip on the military

The party and the PLA are entwined and in the early years of its rule, all Communist Party leaders had military experience.

14 May, 2021
President Xi Jinping headed a commission to shake up the PLA and in 2016 he was named “commander-in-chief” of the armed forces. Photo: Xinhua via AP
[4]

Explainer | Why China’s Communist Party is inseparable from the state

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the Communist Party has closely overseen every aspect of life in the country.

17 May, 2021
The National People's Congress opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5. Photo: Xinhua
[5]

Explainer | Why do so many people join the Communist Party in China?

Since its founding 100 years ago, China’s ruling party now has almost 92 million members.

20 May, 2021
The fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2021. Photo: Xinhua
[6]

Explainer | The role of young people in China’s Communist Party

Communist Youth League has a prominent place in party history, and recruiting young party members has been cited by leaders as vital to the nation’s prosperity.

26 May, 2021
Chinese President Xi Jinping has spoken of the need to “train a generation of reliable successors”. Photo: Xinhua
[7]

Explainer | Membership of China’s Communist Party by sex, ethnicity and profession

Women remain underrepresented in the top ranks, with just one woman among the 25 members of the Politburo.

01 Jun, 2021
The Communist Party of China had almost 92 million members by the end of 2019. Photo: AFP
[8]

Explainer | Communist Party’s ‘quiet diplomacy’ helping China’s foreign relations

Central Committee’s International Department plays an active role in overseas engagement but is largely overlooked.

04 Jun, 2021
The Communist Party’s International Department plays an important role in China’s foreign relations. Photo: Reuters
[9]

Explainer | Who are China’s ‘No 1 hands’ and why is Xi Jinping reining them in?

Provincial party chiefs have seen their power eroded through a series of sweeping reforms instituted by Beijing.

09 Jun, 2021
Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party, has introduced sweeping reforms since coming to power in 2012 to form a highly centralised governing system. Photo: EPA-EFE
[10]

Explainer | Who are China’s eight political parties, aside from the Communist Party?

Their leaders are chosen by the Communist Party, and none has openly opposed the ruling party, but their status has its roots in the birth of the modern China.

11 Jun, 2021
Reporters interview Lin Wenyi of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, made up of people originally from Taiwan. Photo: Xinhua
[11]

Explainer | Tigers, flies and the Chinese dream: Communist Party jargon in the Xi era

Like others before him, president has popularised terms and phrases to sum up his ideology and policies.

16 Jun, 2021
“Serve the people” became the party’s unofficial motto during the Mao Zedong (left) era. President Xi Jinping has his own set of slogans. Photo: AFP
[12]

Explainer | Meet the Communist Party’s rising stars who may eventually reach the top

Many of the seventh-generation contenders are experienced in specialised fields, including tourism promotion, port management, urban planning and development.

26 Jun, 2021
Communist Party members hold party flags in front of a floral decoration for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the founding of China's ruling Communist Party in Beijing. Photo: AP Photo
[13]

Explainer | Why it took years for China’s Communist Party to decide on anniversary

The party held its first national congress in July 1921 but the political confusion of the times left exact day unclear.

30 Jun, 2021
The Communist Party is marking a century since its foundation – although the exact date of the first meeting is unclear. Photo: Kyodo
[14]

Explainer | From Mao to Xi: how Communist Party leaders have shaped its ideology

Across ‘five generations’ they all developed their own doctrines that have been enshrined in the party charter.

30 Jun, 2021
Mao Zedong promoted a revolution led by peasants that he referred to as “surrounding the cities from the countryside”. Photo: Universal Images Group via Getty Images
[15]

A visual history of China’s Communist Party

A special infographic showing 100 years of the party and its influence on China

01 Jul, 2021
China’s Communist Party visually explained: timeline of history
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