National Defense Commission (China)

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National Defense Commission of the People's Republic of China
中华人民共和国国防委员会
National Emblem of the People's Republic of China (2).svg
Commission overview
FormedSeptember 1954
Preceding Commission
  • Central People's Government People's Revolutionary Military Commission
DissolvedJanuary 1975
Superseding Commission

The National Defense Commission of the People's Republic of China was the highest military advisory body of China from 1954 to 1975. The National Defense Commission was led by the state chairman, who was assisted by vice chairmen and several members. It existed concurrently with the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party.

Contents

History

Previously, from the establishment of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949 to September 27, 1954, the Central People's Government People's Revolutionary Military Commission was the highest military command organ of the state, composed of one chairman, several vice chairmen and members, whose members were appointed and removed by the Central People's Government Council. Its powers were to govern and command the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and other armed forces. When the Commission existed, there was no separate highest military leadership organ of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). [1] This was different from the situation from 1954 to 1975 when the Central Military Commission of the CCP and the National Defense Commission coexisted, and from 1982 to the present when the Central Military Commission of the CCP and the State Central Military Commission coexisted. [2]

The Constitution of China, adopted at the first session of the 1st National People's Congress in September 1954, stipulated the establishment of the National Defense Commission of the People's Republic of China, replacing the People's Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's Government. [1] In January 1975, the revised Constitution of China, adopted at the first session of the 4th National People's Congress, abolished the National Defense Commission, stipulating that the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party would command the national armed forces. In December 1982, the Constitution adopted at the fifth session of the 5th National People's Congress established the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China to lead the national armed forces. [3]

Powers

The 1954 Constitution did not explicitly define the powers of the National Defense Commission. Article 42 of this Constitution stated: "The Chairman of the People's Republic of China commands the armed forces of the whole country and serves as the Chairman of the National Defense Commission," meaning that the command of the armed forces belonged to the Chairman of the State. However, in practice, the National Defense Commission was a military advisory body, lacking decision-making power, military command power, and military decision-making power. In fact, on the night of the day this Constitution was adopted, September 20, 1954, the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party held a meeting and decided to establish and form the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party as a military work decision-making body under the leadership of the Politburo. [1]

Membership

The National Defense Commission consisted of a chairman, vice chairmen, and several members. The chairman of the National Defense Commission was the Chairman of the People's Republic of China, and the other members were nominated by the chairman and decided by the National People's Congress. [1]

The first session (1954-1959)

The Vice Chairman and members of the National Defense Commission were appointed by Chairman Mao Zedong of the People's Republic of China on September 29, 1954, in accordance with the decision of the first session of the 1st National People's Congress. [4]

The second session (1959-1964)

The Vice Chairman and members of the National Defense Commission were appointed on April 28, 1959, by Chairman Liu Shaoqi of the People's Republic of China in accordance with the decision of the first session of the 2nd National People's Congress and by the "Presidential Decree of the People's Republic of China". [5]

The Third Session (1965-1975)

The Vice Chairman and members of the National Defense Commission were appointed on January 4, 1965, by Chairman Liu Shaoqi of the People's Republic of China in accordance with the decision of the first session of the 3rd National People's Congress and by the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 3 of the People's Republic of China. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Chang, Yu-Nan (1956). "The Chinese Communist State System Under the Constitution of 1954". The Journal of Politics . 18 (3): 520–546. doi:10.2307/2127261. ISSN   0022-3816. JSTOR   2127261. S2CID   154446161.
  2. 《中华人民共和国中央人民政府组织法》第四章 人民革命军事委员会 第二十三条 “人民革命军事委员会统一管辖并指挥全国人民解放军和其他人民武装力量。”
  3. "国家主席是什么样的国家机构?" [What kind of national institution is the State President?]. cpc.people.com.cn. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
  4. 毛主席任命国防委员会组成人员,人民日报1954年9月30日,第1版
  5. 中华人民共和国主席令 任命国防委员会副主席、委员,人民日报1959年4月29日,第2版
  6. 中华人民共和国主席刘少奇任命国防委员会副主席和委员,人民日报1965年1月5日,第2版