Guomindang

Chinese National People's Party formed in 1912 after the overthrow of the Manchu Empire, and led by Sun Zhong Shan (Sun Yat-sen). The Guomindang was an amalgamation of small political groups, including Sun's Hsin Chung Hui (‘New China Party’), founded in 1894. During the Chinese revolution (1927-49) the right wing, led by Jiang Jie Shi, was in conflict with the left, led by Mao Zedong (though the sides united during the Japanese invasion of 1937-45). Zedong emerged victorious in 1949. Guomindang survived as the dominant political party of Taiwan (until 2000), where it is still spelled Kuomintang. However, in recent years there have been splits between mainland-born hardliners and moderates, led by Lee Teng-hui, president of Taiwan 1988-2000 and Kuomintang leader 1988-2001.

In 2001, the traditionalist Lien Chan, who supports the reunification of Taiwan with China, was elected chairman of Kuomintang.