# Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission

The Vice Chairmen of the Central Military Commission are deputies to the chairman of the Central Military Commission. Currently, two generals of the People's Liberation Army are serving as vice chairmen: first-ranked vice chairman Zhang Youxia and second-ranked vice chairman He Weidong. According to military regulations, the vice chairmen are granted the rank of general by the virtue of their posts.
There are technically two offices with the same name, including the vice chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) CMC and vice chairman of the People's Republic of China (PRC) CMC. However, under the arrangement of "one institution with two names", they function as one office. Since 1997, the vice chairmen have served as the only members of the CCP Politburo holding military rank.

## Election

According to the state constitution, the vice state CMC vice chairmen are elected by the National People's Congress after the nomination of the CMC chairman. According to the Party constitution, the Party CMC vice chairmen are officially elected by the CCP's Central Committee.

## Party commissions
### CCP Central [Revolutionary] Military Commission (1937–49)

Vice-chairmen of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission (August 1937 – August 1945) → Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (August 1945 – September 1949), a.k.a. the Chinese People's Revolutionary Military Commission (November 1948 – September 1949) :
| Military rank | Name (birth–death) | Hanzi | Took office | Left office | Tenure | Term(s) |
| General (Republic of China, awarded 1937) (later Marshal of the People's Republic of China, awarded 1955) | Zhu De (1886–1976) | 朱德 | 22 August 1937 | 30 September 1949 | 12 years, 39 days | 6th, 7th |
| Lieutenant General (Republic of China, awarded 1937) | Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) | 周恩来 | 22 August 1937 | 30 September 1949 | 12 years, 39 days | 6th, 7th |
| — | Wang Jiaxiang (1906–1974) | 王稼祥 | 6 November 1938 | 23 August 1945 | 6 years, 290 days | 6th, 7th |
| — | Liu Shaoqi (1898–1969) | 刘少奇 | 20 March 1943 | 30 September 1949 | 6 years, 194 days | 6th, 7th |
| Lieutenant General (Republic of China, awarded 1937) (later Marshal of the People's Republic of China, awarded 1955) | Peng Dehuai (1898–1974) | 彭德怀 | 23 August 1945 | 30 September 1949 | 4 years, 38 days | 7th |

### CCP Central Military Commission (1959–present)

Vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party (September 1954 – present) :
| Military rank | Name (birth–death) | Hanzi | Took office | Left office | Tenure | Term(s) |
| Marshal | Lin Biao (1907–1971) | 林彪 | 26 September 1959 | 13 September 1971 | 11 years, 352 days | 8th, 9th |
| Marshal | He Long (1896–1969) | 贺龙 | 26 September 1959 | 24 April 1969 | 9 years, 210 days | 8th |
| Marshal | Nie Rongzhen (1889–1992) | 聂荣臻 | 26 September 1959 | 1 November 1987 | 28 years, 36 days | 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th |
| Marshal | Chen Yi (1901–1972) | 陈毅 | 8 January 1966 | 6 January 1972 | 5 years, 363 days | 8th, 9th |
| Marshal | Liu Bocheng (1892–1986) | 刘伯承 | 8 January 1966 | 11 September 1982 | 16 years, 246 days | 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th |
| Marshal | Xu Xiangqian (1901–1990) | 徐向前 | 8 January 1966 | 1 November 1987 | 21 years, 297 days | 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th |
| Marshal | Ye Jianying (1897–1986) | 叶剑英 | 8 January 1966 | 22 October 1986 | 20 years, 287 days | 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th |
| — | Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) | 邓小平 | 10 January 1975 | 7 April 1976 | 1 year, 88 days | 10th |
| — | Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) | 邓小平 | 19 August 1977 | 28 June 1981 | 3 years, 313 days | 11th |
| — | Yang Shangkun (1907–1998) | 杨尚昆 | 11 September 1982 | 18 October 1992 | 10 years, 37 days | 12th, 13th |
| — | Zhao Ziyang (1919–2005) | 赵紫阳 | 1 November 1987 | 23 June 1989 | 1 year, 234 days | 13th |
| Admiral | Liu Huaqing (1916–2011) | 刘华清 | 9 November 1989 | 18 September 1997 | 7 years, 313 days | 13th, 14th |
| General | Zhang Zhen (1914–2015) | 张震 | 18 October 1992 | 18 September 1997 | 4 years, 335 days | 14th |
| General | Chi Haotian (born 1929) | 迟浩田 | 28 September 1995 | 15 November 2002 | 7 years, 48 days | 14th, 15th |
| General | Zhang Wannian (1928–2015) | 张万年 | 28 September 1995 | 15 November 2002 | 7 years, 48 days | 14th, 15th |
| — | Hu Jintao (born 1942) | 胡锦涛 | 22 September 1999 | 19 September 2004 | 4 years, 363 days | 15th, 16th |
| General | Guo Boxiong (born 1942) | 郭伯雄 | 15 November 2002 | 15 November 2012 | 10 years, 0 days | 16th, 17th |
| General | Cao Gangchuan (born 1935) | 曹刚川 | 15 November 2002 | 21 October 2007 | 4 years, 340 days | 16th |
| General | Xu Caihou (1943–2015) | 徐才厚 | 19 September 2004 | 15 November 2012 | 8 years, 57 days | 16th, 17th |
| — | Xi Jinping (born 1953) | 习近平 | 18 October 2010 | 15 November 2012 | 2 years, 28 days | 17th |
| General | Fan Changlong (born 1947) | 范长龙 | 4 November 2012 | 25 October 2017 | 4 years, 355 days | 18th |
| Air Force General | Xu Qiliang (born 1950) | 许其亮 | 4 November 2012 | 23 October 2022 | 9 years, 353 days | 18th, 19th |
| General | Zhang Youxia (born 1950) | 张又侠 | 25 October 2017 | Incumbent | 7 years, 142 days | 19th, 20th |
| General | He Weidong (born 1957) | 何卫东 | 23 October 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 144 days | 20th |

## State commissions
### CPG People's Revolutionary Military Commission (1949–54)

Vice-chairmen of the People's Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's Government (October 1949 – September 1954) :
| Military rank | Name (birth–death) | Hanzi | Took office | Left office | Tenure |
| formerly General (Republic of China) | Zhu De (1886–1976) | 朱德 | 1 October 1949 | 27 September 1954 | 4 years, 361 days |
| — | Liu Shaoqi (1898–1969) | 刘少奇 | 1 October 1949 | 27 September 1954 | 4 years, 361 days |
| formerly Lieutenant General (Republic of China) | Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) | 周恩来 | 1 October 1949 | 27 September 1954 | 4 years, 361 days |
| formerly Lieutenant General (Republic of China) | Peng Dehuai (1898–1974) | 彭德怀 | 1 October 1949 | 27 September 1954 | 4 years, 361 days |
| formerly General, 1st Class (Republic of China) | Cheng Qian (1882–1968) | 程潜 | 19 October 1949 | 27 September 1954 | 4 years, 343 days |
| formerly Lieutenant General (Republic of China) | Lin Biao (1907–1971) | 林彪 | 5 November 1951 | 27 September 1954 | 2 years, 326 days |
| — | Gao Gang (1905–1954) | 高岗 | 5 November 1951 | 27 September 1954 | 2 years, 326 days |
| formerly Lieutenant General (Republic of China) | Liu Bocheng (1892–1986) | 刘伯承 | 19 June 1954 | 27 September 1954 | 110 days |
| formerly Lieutenant General (Republic of China) | He Long (1896–1969) | 贺龙 | 19 June 1954 | 27 September 1954 | 110 days |
| | Chen Yi (1901–1971) | 陈毅 | 19 June 1954 | 27 September 1954 | 110 days |
| | Luo Ronghuan (1902–1963) | 罗荣桓 | 19 June 1954 | 27 September 1954 | 110 days |
| formerly Major General (Republic of China) | Xu Xiangqian (1901–1990) | 徐向前 | 19 June 1954 | 27 September 1954 | 110 days |
| formerly Major General (Republic of China) | Nie Rongzhen (1889–1992) | 聂荣臻 | 19 June 1954 | 27 September 1954 | 110 days |
| formerly Lieutenant General (Republic of China) | Ye Jianying (1897–1986) | 叶剑英 | 19 June 1954 | 27 September 1954 | 110 days |

### PRC National Defense Council (1954–75)

Vice-chairmen of the National Defense Council of the People's Republic of China (1954–1975) :
| Military rank | Name (birth–death) | Hanzi | Took office | Left office | Tenure | Term(s) |
| Marshal | Zhu De (1886–1976) | 朱德 | 29 September 1954 | 28 April 1959 | 4 years, 211 days | 1st |
| Marshal | Peng Dehuai (1898–1974) | 彭德怀 | 29 September 1954 | 4 January 1965 | 10 years, 97 days | 1st, 2nd |
| Marshal | Lin Biao (1907–1971) | 林彪 | 29 September 1954 | 13 September 1971 | 16 years, 349 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Marshal | Liu Bocheng (1892–1986) | 刘伯承 | 29 September 1954 | 13 January 1975 | 20 years, 196 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Marshal | He Long (1896–1969) | 贺龙 | 29 September 1954 | 13 January 1975 | 20 years, 196 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Marshal | Chen Yi (1901–1971) | 陈毅 | 29 September 1954 | 13 January 1975 | 20 years, 196 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| — | Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997) | 邓小平 | 29 September 1954 | 12 August 1966 | 11 years, 317 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Marshal | Luo Ronghuan (1902–1963) | 罗荣桓 | 29 September 1954 | 4 January 1965 | 10 years, 97 days | 1st, 2nd |
| Marshal | Xu Xiangqian (1901–1990) | 徐向前 | 29 September 1954 | 13 January 1975 | 20 years, 196 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Marshal | Nie Rongzhen (1889–1992) | 聂荣臻 | 29 September 1954 | 13 January 1975 | 20 years, 196 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| Marshal | Ye Jianying (1897–1986) | 叶剑英 | 29 September 1954 | 13 January 1975 | 20 years, 196 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| formerly General, 1st Class (Republic of China) | Cheng Qian (1882–1968) | 程潜 | 29 September 1954 | 13 January 1975 | 20 years, 196 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| formerly General, 2nd Class (Republic of China) | Zhang Zhizhong (1895–1969) | 张治中 | 29 September 1954 | 13 January 1975 | 20 years, 196 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| formerly General, 2nd Class (Republic of China) | Fu Zuoyi (1895–1974) | 傅作义 | 29 September 1954 | 13 January 1975 | 20 years, 196 days | 1st, 2nd, 3rd |
| formerly General, 2nd Class (Republic of China) | Long Yun (1884–1962) | 龙云 | 29 September 1954 | 1 February 1958 | 3 years, 125 days | 1st |
| formerly General, 2nd Class (Republic of China) | Wei Lihuang (1897–1960) | 卫立煌 | 28 April 1959 | 17 January 1960 | 264 days | 2nd |
| formerly General, 2nd Class (Republic of China) | Cai Tingkai (1892–1968) | 蔡廷锴 | 16 April 1962 | 25 April 1968 | 6 years, 9 days | 2nd, 3rd |
| Grand General | Luo Ruiqing (1906–1978) | 罗瑞卿 | 4 January 1965 | 13 January 1975 | 10 years, 9 days | 3rd |

### PRC Central Military Commission (1983–present)

Vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China (1983–present) :
| Military rank | Name (birth–death) | Hanzi | Took office | Left office | Tenure | Term(s) |
| Marshal | Xu Xiangqian (1901–1990) | 徐向前 | 6 June 1983 | 13 April 1988 | 4 years, 312 days | 6th |
| Marshal | Ye Jianying (1897–1986) | 叶剑英 | 6 June 1983 | 13 April 1988 | 4 years, 312 days | 6th |
| — | Yang Shangkun (1907–1998) | 杨尚昆 | 6 June 1983 | 31 March 1993 | 9 years, 298 days | 6th, 7th |
| — | Zhao Ziyang (1919–2005) | 赵紫阳 | 25 April 1987 | 23 June 1989 | 2 years, 59 days | 7th |
| General | Liu Huaqing (1916–2011) | 刘华清 | 28 March 1993 | 5 March 1998 | 4 years, 342 days | 8th |
| General | Chi Haotian (born 1929) | 迟浩田 | 28 March 1993 | 5 March 2003 | 9 years, 342 days | 8th, 9th |
| General | Zhang Wannian (1928–2015) | 张万年 | 28 March 1993 | 5 March 2003 | 9 years, 342 days | 8th, 9th |
| — | Hu Jintao (born 1942) | 胡锦涛 | October 1999 | 13 March 2005 | 5 years, 163 days | 9th, 10th |
| General | Guo Boxiong (born 1942) | 郭伯雄 | 16 March 2003 | 16 March 2013 | 10 years, 0 days | 10th, 11th |
| General | Cao Gangchuan (born 1935) | 曹刚川 | 16 March 2003 | 14 March 2008 | 4 years, 364 days | 10th |
| General | Xu Caihou (1943–2015) | 徐才厚 | 13 March 2005 | 14 March 2013 | 8 years, 0 days | 10th, 11th |
| — | Xi Jinping (born 1953) | 习近平 | 28 October 2010 | 14 March 2013 | 2 years, 137 days | 11th |
| General | Fan Changlong (born 1947) | 范长龙 | 16 March 2013 | 18 March 2018 | 5 years, 2 days | 12th |
| Air Force General | Xu Qiliang (born 1950) | 许其亮 | 16 March 2013 | 11 March 2023 | 9 years, 360 days | 12th, 13th |
| General | Zhang Youxia (born 1950) | 张又侠 | 18 March 2018 | Incumbent | 6 years, 363 days | 13th, 14th |
| General | He Weidong (born 1957) | 何卫东 | 11 March 2023 | Incumbent | 2 years, 5 days | 14th |