Leader of the Guangxi clique who won at Taierzhuang and became acting president of the Nationalist government in 1949
Born near Guilin in Guangxi, he joined the Tongmenghui in 1910. He built up his power amid Guangxi’s warlord wars, formed the New Guangxi Clique with Bai Chongxi and Huang Shaohong, and dominated Guangxi from 1924. He commanded the 4th Army Group in the Northern Expedition, and in the war against Japan, as commander of the Fifth War Zone, directed the Battle of Taierzhuang in 1938. Elected vice-president by the National Assembly in April 1948, he became acting president when Chiang stepped down in January 1949 and negotiated with the Communists without success. After years of exile in the United States he returned to mainland China in 1965 with the help of Zhou Enlai, and died in Beijing in 1969.
Also known as: Li Tsung-jen
Activities and affiliations
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1910–1912
Tongmenghui (Chinese United League)
Military command -
1924–1925
Beiyang government and warlordsMilitary governor of Guangxi
Military command -
1924–
Military command
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1926–1949
Republic of China state institutionsCommander of the Fifth War ZoneMain
Military command -
1948–1949
Republic of China state institutionsVice-president and acting president
Government and administration
Career Timeline
- 1910Joined the Tongmenghui
- 1924Took control of Guangxi; formed the New Guangxi Clique
- 1926–1928Commander of the 4th Army Group in the Northern Expedition
- 1937Commander of the Fifth War Zone
- 1938Directed the Battle of Taierzhuang
- 1948Elected vice-president of the Republic of China
- 1949Acting president; peace talks with the Communists failed
- 1965Returned to mainland China from exile in the United States
Related historical events
- 1937–1945The war with Japan and the second united frontFifth War Zone commander at TaierzhuangHe defeated the Japanese at Taierzhuang in 1938, the first great Chinese victory of the war.
- 1945–1949The Chinese Civil WarActing president in 1949After Chiang stepped down he negotiated for peace but would not sign the Agreement on Internal Peace.
- 1949Establishment of the People’s Republic of ChinaActing president on the Nationalist side of the peace talksWhen his government rejected the Agreement on Internal Peace in April 1949 the PLA crossed the Yangtze.