List of premiers of China

This is a list of the Premiers of China from 1911–1912 during the Qing dynasty, 1912 onwards of the Republic of China and 1949 onwards of the People's Republic of China.

The first recorded instance of a monarch of China appointing a chief minister was in around 1130 BC, by King Tang of the Shang dynasty. Since then, almost every monarch in China appointed a chief minister to help him or her to run the administration. This role has been known by several different names, most commonly Chancellor. With the unification of China under the First Emperor of the Qin dynasty in 221 BC, the power in the premiers' hands was reduced because of the Emperors' intentions of setting up an absolute monarchy. In 1380, the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming dynasty ordered the death of his Chancellor, and did not appoint another in his lifetime. From then until 1911, a number of people formally shared the responsibility of chief minister to the Emperor. Even when one of them dominated government, such as in the case of Li Hongzhang, they were nevertheless formally just one of several ministers of equal status. During much of the Qing dynasty, for example, the traditional role of the Chancellor was performed collectively by the Grand Council.

In mid 1911, the modern position of Premier was created, when the Qing Imperial Government created the "Princes' Cabinet" as a reform of Chinese politics, shortly before it was overthrown. When Yuan Shikai took over the premiership, the premiers of China played an influential role in Chinese politics.

The list below shows premiers of China during the Qing dynasty. Multiple terms in office, consecutive or otherwise, are listed. The first column shows the consecutively numbered term of the premier, while the second column shows his or her chronological position amongst individual premiers.

For the modern-day positions referred to as Premiers of China, see:

• List of premiers of the Republic of China (Presidents of Executive Yuan) (since 1912)
• List of premiers of the People's Republic of China (Premiers of State Council) (since 1949)

List of Prime Ministers of Qing Imperial Government (1911–12)

The Qing Imperial Government created the "Imperial Family Cabinet" in May 1911, in order to appease popular anger and calls for reform. But the formation of Cabinet brought even more disaffection. Soon the Wuchang Uprising forced the Qing government to abolish the cabinet, and instead summon Yuan Shikai to head the government. The imperial government collapsed soon afterward.

Zhang Xun briefly held the post during his brief attempt to restore the Qing dynasty in July 1917.

List of Prime Ministers of Qing Imperial Government

  Non-Partisan   Beiyang clique, etc.

Prime Ministers of Qing Imperial Government

• period: 8 May 1911 – 10 March 1912

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	Emperor
1		Yikuang, Prince Qing 慶親王 (1838–1917)	8 May 1911	1 November 1911	177	Non-partisan (Qing dynasty) (The Imperial Family)	Xuantong (Puyi)
2		Yuan Shikai 袁世凱 Yuán Shìkǎi (1859–1916)	2 November 1911	10 March 1912	129	Beiyang clique	Xuantong (Puyi)
3		Zhang Xun 張勳 Zhāng Xūn (1854–1923)	1 July 1917	17 July 1917	11	Non-partisan (warlord) (restoration attempt)	Puyi

List of Premiers of the ROC (since 1912)

List of Premiers of the Republic of China

  Non-Partisan   Beiyang clique, etc.   Progressive   Kuomintang (Nationalist)   Democratic Progressive

Premiers of Cabinet of the Republic of China

• period: 13 March 1912 – 1 May 1914

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	President
1		Tang Shaoyi 唐紹儀 Táng Shàoyí (1862–1938)	13 March 1912	27 June 1912	106	Beiyang clique	Sun Yat-sen, Yuan Shikai
2		Pierre-Célestin Lou Lou Tseng-tsiang 陸徵祥 Lù Zhēngxiáng (1871–1949)	29 June 1912	22 September 1912	56	Beiyang clique	Yuan Shikai
3		Zhao Bingjun 趙秉鈞 Zhào Bǐngjūn (1859–1914)	25 September 1912	1 May 1913	252	Beiyang clique	Yuan Shikai
—		Duan Qirui 段祺瑞 Duàn Qíruì (1865–1936)	1 May 1913	31 July 1913	91	Beiyang clique	Yuan Shikai
4		Xiong Xiling 熊希龄 Xióng Xīlíng (1870–1937)	31 July 1913	12 February 1914	196	Beiyang clique	Yuan Shikai
—		Sun Baoqi 孫寶琦 Sūn Bǎoqí (1867–1931)	12 February 1914	1 May 1914	78	Beiyang clique	Yuan Shikai

Secretaries of State of the Empire of China

• period: 22 December 1915 – 22 March 1916

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	Emperor
(2)		Pierre-Célestin Lou Lou Tseng-tsiang 陸徵祥 Lù Zhēngxiáng (1871–1949)	22 December 1915	22 March 1916	91	Non-partisan	Hongxian (Yuan Shikai)

Secretaries of State of the Republic of China

• period: 1 May 1914 – 22 December 1915; 22 March 1916 – 29 June 1916

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	President
5		Xu Shichang 徐世昌 Xú Shìchāng (1855–1939)	1 May 1914	22 December 1915	600	Beiyang clique	Yuan Shikai
			22 March 1916	23 April 1916	32
6		Duan Qirui 段祺瑞 Duàn Qíruì (1865–1936)	23 April 1916	29 June 1916	67	Beiyang clique	Yuan Shikai, Li Yuanhong

Premiers of State Council of the Republic of China

• period: 29 June 1916 – 1 July 1917

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	President
(6)		Duan Qirui 段祺瑞 Duàn Qíruì (1865–1936)	29 June 1916	23 May 1917	328	Progressive	Li Yuanhong
—		Wu Tingfang 伍廷芳 Wu Tíngfāng (1842–1922)	23 May 1917	28 May 1917	5	Progressive	Li Yuanhong
7		Li Jingxi 李經羲 Li Jīngxī (1859–1925)	28 May 1917	1 July 1917	34	Progressive	Li Yuanhong

Prime Minister of Restored Qing Imperial Government

• period: 1 July 1917 – 12 July 1917

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	Emperor
—		Zhang Xun 張勳 Zhāng Xūn (1854–1923)	1 July 1917	12 July 1917	16	Non-partisan	Xuantong (Puyi)

Premiers of State Council of the Republic of China

• period: 14 July 1917 – 24 November 1924

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	President
(6)		Duan Qirui 段祺瑞 Duàn Qíruì (1865–1936)	14 July 1917	22 November 1917	128	Anhui clique	Feng Guozhang
—		Wang Daxie 汪大燮 Wāng Dàxiè (1860–1929)	22 November 1917	30 November 1917	8	Zhili clique	Feng Guozhang
—		Wang Shizhen 王士珍 Wáng Shìzhēn (1861–1930)	30 November 1917	20 February 1918	82	Anhui clique	Feng Guozhang
—		Qian Nengxun 錢能訓 Qián Néngxun (1869–1924)	20 February 1918	23 March 1918	31	Anhui clique	Feng Guozhang
(6)		Duan Qirui 段祺瑞 Duàn Qíruì (1865–1936)	23 March 1918	10 October 1918	201	Anhui clique	Feng Guozhang
—		Qian Nengxun 錢能訓 Qián Néngxun (1869–1924)	10 October 1918	13 June 1919	246	Anhui clique	Xu Shichang
—		Gong Xinzhan 龔心湛 Gōng Xīnzhàn (1871–1943)	13 June 1919	24 September 1919	103	Anhui Clique	Xu Shichang
8		Jin Yunpeng 靳雲鵬 Jìn Yúnpéng (1877–1951)	24 September 1919	14 May 1920	233	Anhui Clique	Xu Shichang
9		Sa Zhenbing 薩鎮冰 Sà Zhènbīng (1859–1952)	14 May 1920	9 August 1920	87	Anhui Clique	Xu Shichang
(8)		Jin Yunpeng 靳雲鵬 Jìn Yúnpéng (1877–1951)	9 August 1920	18 December 1921	496	Anhui Clique	Xu Shichang
—		W.W. Yan Yan Huiqing 顏惠慶 Yán Huìqìng (1877–1950)	18 December 1921	24 December 1921	6	Zhili Clique	Xu Shichang
10		Liang Shiyi 梁士詒 Liáng Shìyí (1869–1933)	24 December 1921	25 January 1922	32	Communications Clique	Xu Shichang
—		W.W. Yan Yan Huiqing 顏惠慶 Yán Huìqìng (1877–1950)	25 January 1922	8 April 1922	73	Zhili Clique	Xu Shichang
—		Zhou Ziqi 周自齊 Zhōu Zìqí (1871–1923)	8 April 1922	11 June 1922	64	Anhui Clique	Xu Shichang, Zhou Ziqi (co-serving)
11		W.W. Yan Yan Huiqing 顏惠慶 Yán Huìqìng (1877–1950)	11 June 1922	5 August 1922	55	Zhili Clique	Li Yuanhong
—		Wang Chonghui 王寵惠 Wáng Chǒnghuì (1881–1958)	5 August 1922	29 November 1922	116	Non-partisan	Li Yuanhong
—		Wang Daxie 汪大燮 Wāng Dàxiè (1860–1929)	29 November 1922	11 December 1922	12	Zhili clique	Li Yuanhong
—		Wang Zhengting 王正廷 Wáng Zhèngtíng (1882–1961)	11 December 1922	4 January 1923	24	Non-partisan	Li Yuanhong
12		Zhang Shaozeng 張紹曾 Zhāng Shàozéng (1879–1928)	4 January 1923	9 September 1923	248	Beiyang clique	Li Yuanhong, Gao Lingwei
13		Gao Lingwei 高凌霨 Gāo Língwèi (1868–1939)	9 September 1923	12 January 1924	125	Non-partisan	Gao Lingwei, Cao Kun
14		Sun Baoqi 孫寶琦 Sūn Bǎoqí (1867–1931)	12 January 1924	2 July 1924	172	Beiyang clique	Cao Kun
—		Wellington Koo Koo Vi-kyuin 顧維鈞 Gù Wéijūn (1887–1985)	2 July 1924	14 September 1924	74	Non-partisan	Cao Kun
(11)		W.W. Yan Yan Huiqing 顏惠慶 Yán Huìqìng (1877–1950)	14 September 1924	31 October 1924	47	Zhili Clique	Cao Kun
—		Huang Fu 黃郛 Huáng Fú (1883–1936)	31 October 1924	24 November 1924	24	Non-partisan	Cao Kun, Huang Fu (co-serving)

Premiers of State Council of the Republic of China

• period: 24 November 1924 – 2 June 1928

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	President
15		Xu Shiying 許世英 Xǔ Shìyīng (1873–1964)	26 December 1925	4 March 1926	68	Non-partisan	Duan Qirui
—		Jia Deyao 賈德耀 Jiǎ Déyào (1880–1940)	4 March 1926	20 April 1926	47	Non-partisan	Duan Qirui
—		Hu Weide 胡惟德 Hú Wéidé (1863–1933)	20 April 1926	13 May 1926	23	Non-partisan	Hu Weide (co-serving)
(11)		W.W. Yan Yan Huiqing 顏惠慶 Yán Huìqìng (1877–1950)	13 May 1926	22 June 1926	40	Non-partisan	W.W. Yan (co-serving)
—		Du Xigui 杜錫珪 Dù Xīguī (1875–1933)	22 June 1926	1 October 1926	101	Non-partisan	Du Xigui (co-serving)
—		Wellington Koo Koo Vi-kyuin 顧維鈞 Gù Wéijūn (1887–1985)	1 October 1926	18 June 1927	260	Non-partisan	V.K. Wellington Koo (co-serving)
—		Pan Fu 潘復 Pān Fù (1883–1936)	18 June 1927	2 June 1928	350	Non-partisan	Zhang Zuolin

Presidents of Executive Yuan of the Republic of China

• period: 25 October 1928 – 24 May 1948

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	President
16		Tan Yankai 譚延闓 Tán Yánkǎi (1880–1930)	25 October 1928	22 September 1930	842	Kuomintang	Tan Yankai (co-serving), Chiang Kai-shek
			Died in office.
17		T.V. Soong Soong Tse-ven 宋子文 Sòng Ziwén (1894–1971)	25 September 1930	4 December 1930	73	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek
18		Chiang Kai-shek 蒋中正 Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng (1887–1975)	4 December 1930	15 December 1931	376	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek (co-serving)
19		Chen Mingshu 陳銘樞 Chén Míngshū (1889–1965)	15 December 1931	1 January 1932	17	Kuomintang	Lin Sen
20		Sun Fo 孫科 Sūn Kē (1891–1973)	1 January 1932	28 January 1932	27	Kuomintang	Lin Sen
21		Wang Jingwei 汪兆銘 Wāng Jīngwèi (1883–1944)	28 January 1932	1 December 1935	1403	Kuomintang	Lin Sen
(18)		Chiang Kai-shek 蔣中正 Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng (1887–1975)	7 December 1935	1 January 1938	756	Kuomintang	Lin Sen
22		H.H. Kung Kung Hsiang-hsi 孔祥熙 Kǒng Xiángxī (1881–1967)	1 January 1938	11 December 1939	106	Kuomintang	Lin Sen
(18)		Chiang Kai-shek 蔣中正 Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng (1887–1975)	11 December 1939	31 May 1945	2707	Kuomintang	Lin Sen, Chiang Kai-shek (co-serving)
(17)		T.V. Soong Soong Tse-ven 宋子文 Sòng Ziwén (1894–1971)	31 May 1945	1 March 1947	639	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek
(18)		Chiang Kai-shek 蔣中正 Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng (1887–1975)	1 March 1947	18 April 1947	48	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek
23		Chang Ch'ün 張群 Zhāng Qún (1889–1990)	18 April 1947	24 May 1948	402	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek

Presidents of Executive Yuan of the Republic of China

• period: 24 May 1948 – present

№	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of Office		Days	Political party	President
24		Weng Wenhao 翁文灝 Wēng Wénhào (1889–1971)	24 May 1948	26 November 1948	186	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek
(20)		Sun Fo 孫科 Sūn Kē (1891–1973)	26 November 1948	12 March 1949	106	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek, Li Zongren
25		He Yingqin 何應欽 Hé Yìngqīn (1890–1987)	12 March 1949	3 June 1949	83	Kuomintang	Li Zongren
26		Yan Xishan 閻錫山 Yán Xíshān (1883–1960)	3 June 1949	7 March 1950	277	Kuomintang	Li Zongren, Chiang Kai-shek
27		Chen Cheng 陳誠 Chén Chéng (1897–1965)	7 March 1950	7 June 1954	1553	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek
28		Yu Hung-Chun 俞鴻鈞 Yú Hóngjūn (1897–1960)	7 June 1954	30 June 1958	1484	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek
(27)		Chen Cheng 陳誠 Chén Chéng (1897–1965)	30 June 1958	15 December 1963	1994	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek
29		C.K. Yen Yen Chia-kan 嚴家淦 Yán Jiāgàn (1905–1993)	15 December 1963	29 May 1972	3088	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek
30		Chiang Ching-kuo 蔣經國 Jiǎng Jīngguó (1910–1988)	29 May 1972	28 May 1978	2190	Kuomintang	Chiang Kai-shek, C.K. Yen, Chiang Ching-kuo (co-serving)
31		Sun Yun-suan 孫運璿 Sūn Yùnxuán (1913–2006)	30 May 1978	20 May 1984	2184	Kuomintang	Chiang Ching-kuo
32		Yu Kuo-hwa 俞國華 Yú Guóhuá (1914–2000)	20 May 1984	21 May 1989	1827	Kuomintang	Chiang Ching-kuo, Lee Teng-hui
33		Lee Huan 李煥 Lǐ Huàn (1917–2010)	21 May 1989	1 June 1990	376	Kuomintang	Lee Teng-hui
34		Hau Pei-tsun 郝柏村 Hǎo Bócūn (1919– )	1 June 1990	10 February 1993	985	Kuomintang	Lee Teng-hui
35		Lien Chan 連戰 Lián Zhàn (1936– )	10 February 1993	1 September 1997	1664	Kuomintang	Lee Teng-hui
36		Vincent Siew Siew Wan-chang 蕭萬長 Xiāo Wàncháng (1939– )	1 September 1997	20 May 2000	992	Kuomintang	Lee Teng-hui
37		Tang Fei 唐飛 Táng Fēi (1933– )	20 May 2000	6 October 2000	139	Kuomintang	Chen Shui-bian
38		Chang Chun-hsiung 張俊雄 Zhāng Jùnxióng (1938– )	6 October 2000	1 February 2002	483	Democratic Progressive	Chen Shui-bian
			First non-KMT premier.
39		Yu Shyi-kun 游錫堃 Yóu Xíkūn (1948– )	1 February 2002	1 February 2005	1096	Democratic Progressive	Chen Shui-bian
40		Frank Hsieh Hsieh Chang-ting 謝長廷 Xiè Chángtíng (1946– )	1 February 2005	25 January 2006	358	Democratic Progressive	Chen Shui-bian
41		Su Tseng-chang 蘇貞昌 Sū Zhēnchāng (1947– )	25 January 2006	21 May 2007	481	Democratic Progressive	Chen Shui-bian
(38)		Chang Chun-hsiung 張俊雄 Zhāng Jùnxióng (1938– )	21 May 2007	20 May 2008	365	Democratic Progressive	Chen Shui-bian
42		Liu Chao-shiuan 劉兆玄 Liú Zhàoxuán (1943– )	20 May 2008	10 September 2009	478	Kuomintang	Ma Ying-jeou
43		Wu Den-yih 吳敦義 Wú Dūnyì (1948– )	10 September 2009	6 February 2012	879	Kuomintang	Ma Ying-jeou
44		Sean Chen Chen Chun 陳冲 Chén Chōng (1949– )	6 February 2012	18 February 2013	378	Kuomintang	Ma Ying-jeou
45		Jiang Yi-huah 江宜樺 Jiāng Yīhuá (1960– )	18 February 2013	8 December 2014	658	Kuomintang	Ma Ying-jeou
			Youngest premier to take office.
46		Mao Chi-kuo 毛治國 Máo Zhìguó (1948– )	8 December 2014	18 January 2016	406	Kuomintang	Ma Ying-jeou
—		Chang San-cheng 張善政 Zhāng Shànzhèng (1954– )	18 January 2016	1 February 2016	14	Non-partisan	Ma Ying-jeou
47		Chang San-cheng 張善政 Zhāng Shànzhèng (1954– )	1 February 2016	20 May 2016	109	Non-partisan	Ma Ying-jeou
			First non-partisan premier. First administration with a DPP legislative majority.
48		Lin Chuan 林全 Lín Quán (1951– )	20 May 2016	8 September 2017	880	Non-partisan	Tsai Ing-wen
49		Lai Ching-te (William Lai) 賴清德 Lài Qīngdé (1959–)	8 September 2017	Incumbent	404	Democratic Progressive	Tsai Ing-wen

List of Premiers of the PRC (since 1949)

The Premiership of PRC was created since the establishment of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949.

List of Premiers of the People's Republic of China

Generations of leadership

  First Administration   Second Administration   Third Administration   Hu–Wen Administration   Xi–Li Administration

Portrait		Name (Birth–Death) Constituency	Term of office			NPC	Cabinet
1		Zhou Enlai 周恩来 (1898–1976) Beijing At-large	1 October 1949	15 September 1954	26 years, 99 days	CP	Zhou I
			15 September 1954	18 April 1959		I	Zhou II
			18 April 1959	21 December 1964		II	Zhou III
			21 December 1964	4 January 1975		III	Zhou IV
			4 January 1975	8 January 1976†		IV	Zhou V
			Geneva Conference in 1954, Asian-African Conference, 1972 Nixon visit to China, Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution Offices: Foreign Minister (1949–1958), CPPC Chairman (1954–1976) †Died in office (cancer)
2		Hua Guofeng 华国锋 (1921–2008) Hunan At-large	4 February 1976	7 April 1976	4 years, 219 days	IV	(acting)
			7 April 1976	5 March 1978			Hua I
			5 March 1978	10 September 1980§		V	Hua II
			Two Whatevers, Tiananmen Incident, Downfall of the Gang of Four, Sino-Vietnamese War, One Child Policy Offices: Governor of Hunan (1970–1976), Minister of Public Security (1975–1977), Vice Premier (1975–1976) § Ousted
3		Zhao Ziyang 赵紫阳 (1919–2005) Beijing At-large	10 September 1980	6 June 1983	7 years, 75 days	V	(acting)
			6 June 1983	24 November 1987§		VI	Zhao
			Chinese economic reform, Sino-British Joint Declaration, Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau, Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 Offices: Governor of Guangdong (1974–1975), Governor of Sichuan (1975–1980) § Resigned
4		Li Peng 李鹏 (1928– ) Beijing At-large	24 November 1987	25 March 1988	10 years, 113 days	VI	(acting)
			25 March 1988	15 March 1993		VII	Li P. I
			15 March 1993	17 March 1998		VIII	Li P. II
			Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Three Gorges Dam, Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong Offices: Chairman of State Education Commission (1985–1988), Vice Premier (1983–1987)
5		Zhu Rongji 朱镕基 (1928– ) Hunan At-large	17 March 1998	16 March 2003	4 years, 364 days	IX	Zhu
			Transfer of sovereignty over Macau, accession to the World Trade Organization Offices: Mayor of Shanghai (1987–1991), Governor of People's Bank of China (1993–1995), First-ranking Vice Premier (1993–1998)
6		Wen Jiabao 温家宝 (1942– ) Gansu At-large	16 March 2003	16 March 2008	9 years, 364 days	X	Wen I
			16 March 2008	15 March 2013		XI	Wen II
			SARs outbreak, Anti-Secession Law, H5N1 avian flu outbreak, 2008 Sichuan earthquake, Beijing Olympics, Shanghai Expo Offices: Vice Premier (1998–2003)
7		Li Keqiang 李克强 (1955– ) Shandong At-large	15 March 2013	Incumbent	5 years, 216 days	XII	Li Y
			2013 Lushan earthquake, H7N9 avian flu outbreak Offices: First-ranking Vice Premier (2008–2013)

See also

• List of Chinese leaders
• Chancellor (China)
• Paramount leader

References

• China Online Encyclopedia