(1912)--Sun Yat-sen--(Kuomingtang) [1]
(1912-1916)--Chen Qimei--(Kuomintang)
(1916-1929)--Liang Qichao--(Progressive)
(1929)--Zhang Zuolin--(Qing Restorationist) [2]
(1929-1935)--Cai E--(Progressive) [3]
(1935-1944)--Zhang Jinghui--(Independent, United China Party after 1940) [4]
(1944-1956)--Tsing Quchao (National Republicans)
(1956-1963)--Zhang Dongsun (Liberal Democratic League) [5]
(1963-1972)--Chen Gongbo--(Social Democrat) [6]
(1972)--Wang Rongde (Social Democrat) [7]
(1972-1975)--Jiang Jieshi--(Kuomintang) [8]
(1975-1983)--Qiao Shi (Tuanjie Coalition) [9]
(1983-1995)--Li Denghui--(Democratic Party) [10]
(1995-1997)--Chen Mingtao--(Democratic Party) [11]
(1997-1999)--Guo Luoji--(Democratic Party) [12]
(1999-2006)--Song Chuyu--(Chinese Popular Front) [13]
(2006-2011)--Sha Zukang--(Chinese Popular Front)
[1] Sun was assasinated in January of 1912 by a Qing Loyalist, throwing the young government of the Republic of China into chaos as rival factions attempted to seize control of the Parliament.
[2] After Liang's death, there was a power vacuum, which was immediately filled by the northern general Zhang Zuolin and his Fengtian Army Group, who seized Peking and restored the Qing claimant Emperor Puyi to the throne. He was overthrown after four months in a counter-coup led by General Cai E, and was forced to flee to Japan.
[3] General Cai E of the Southern Army, a proud student of former leader Liang Qichao, overthrows Zhang Zuolin, and is proclaimed President of the Republic of China, pushing forward sweeping social, economic and military reforms. Despite becoming the first-ever popularly-elected president in 1935, he dies of a sudden heart attack before he could begin serving his term.
[4] Served out Cai E's term (having been Vice-President), then won a blatantly rigged reelection financed, it is rumored, by the Japanese. Was assassinated by a Kuomintang supporter the day before the 1944 election).
[5] Public intellectual and founder of the Liberal Democratic League, Zhang Dongsun declares his intention to run for President in 1956 election. With the reactionary Koumintang and the increasingly militant Communists as the only other major options, with the Progressive Party having dissolved during the 40s, Zhang Dongsun is quick to win international support, with both the socialist Bertrand Russell and the classical liberal Friedrich von Hayek declaring their support in Britain, and Eleanor Roosevelt declaring hers from the United States. When faced with the Koumintang in the second round, the LDL scores a remarkable victory. Zhang Dongsun declares it his intention to bring foreign capital and investment into China and begins to deconstruct the massive trade walls that have existed since Qing days. In 1961, he is able to introduce education for all until age 14.
[6] Vice-President under Zhang Gongsun, and succeeded him upon the latter's death in 1963. Originally from the left-wing of the KMT, he founded the Social Democratic Party along with several ex-KMT leftists and former Communists. Winning reelection in 1964, his most notable and controversial policy was the so-called "two-child tax", a population-control measure imposing a tax on families with more than two children. He also reversed much of his predecessor's economic policies, instituting a protectionist regime and nationalizing the nation's mining and banking assets. This has led many people to suspect in a popular conspiracy theory that much of his Administration's officials were closet Communists attempting to look more respectable.
[7] Wang was Chen's VP and succeeded him when he died in rather mysterious circumstances while on a visit to Korea. Officially, he died of a heart attack, but to this day there are rumours Chen was taken out by disgruntled business tycoons or by a foreign intelligence agency in cahoots with them. Wang was never more than a placeholder President and served only until a special election was held.
[8] Also known as Chiang Kai-Shek. Jiang won the special election, and became China's first Kuomintang president since 1916. He declared martial law in January 1975 in response to student protests across China, and suspended the National Assembly. However, he died of heart attack three months later.
[9] With the Kuomingtang permanently removed from the national stage after Chiang's brief rule and abortive assumption of direct rule, a new era on the Chinese political scene began. During this period, under the guidance of the President Qiao Shi and his Unity Coalition, the republic formed closer relations with the United States and Germany, and also pursued a policy of reconciliation with the People's Republic of Japan.
[10] Li Denghui won the election by appealing to ex-KMT voters and others who were horrified at the recession that had accompanied Qiao's tenure. Li as President during the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union and Japan (whose monarchy was restored after exile). He was reelected in 1987 and 1991, before retiring. Second President of the Second Republic.
[11] Chen, a former member of the Kuomingtang and a venerable Old Guard politician, was Li's vice president. He died after two years from lung cancer, and was most notable for his attempted economic reforms, as well as his friendship towards the new government in Japan.
[12] Defeated for reelection by Song Chuyu of the right wing Chinese Popular Front, aldo known as the "Party of Prosperity".
[13] Assassinated in Hetian by a East Turkestani independent activist, and is succeeded by Sha Zukang, a interventionist neoconservative. Winning reelection in 2006, he is however defeated by ___________ of the center-left ________________ in 2010.
OOC: We better use Wade-Giles translation for Taiwanese politicians for convenience
I don't think many here would be able to connect Li Denghui with Lee Teng-hui, or Song Churyu with James Soong
