China: CCP’s 100th Anniversary

Written by Ian Cross, edited by Kaz Bosali

China is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the summer of 1921. The party has been the sole governing party of the People’s Republic of China since its founding in 1949.

The party was founded in 1921 with the assistance of Russian Bolsheviks who came to power after the 1917 October Revolution.

From 1927 to 1950, the CCP fought a civil war against the Kuomintang’s Nationalist Government but it temporarily ceased its hostilities in order to form a short-lived alliance with the Nationalists to fight a war against Japan between 1937 and 1945.

In 1949, it emerged victorious when the CCP’s Chairman, Mao Zedong, proclaimed the establishment of the People’s Republic of China and the Nationalists Republic of China government retreated to Taiwan. Since then, the CCP has been the sole ruling party in the country.

To explore more about this period of Chinese history check out our Chinese study guides and our three part series Empire Builders China that explores Imperial China, China’s Century of Humiliation and the Modern World, Modern Emperors, an insightful documentary into the great country.