Ep 3: Is the CPC the only political party in China?

Q: Is the CPC the only political party in China?

No. There are eight other political parties. Most of them came into being and were developed during the 1940s, and the earliest one was the Zhi Gong Party in 1925. The CPC connects itself with the eight parties through the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, or CPPCC. It is an important platform in which non-CPC members work together in state affairs.

Q：In China, do you have to be a CPC member in order to have a better opportunity for self-development?

Not necessary. Many outside the party have been fulfilling themselves and making contributions. Some examples include the late agronomist Yuan Longping, known for developing the first hybrid rice varieties in the 1970s…and world renowned former basketball player Yao Ming, who chairs the Chinese Basketball Association.

Q: Can a non-CPC member be promoted to a high position in government sectors?

Among the legislative bodies and government bodies through all levels in China, there have been quite a number of leaders who are not CPC members.

Wan Gang, a member of the Zhigong Party, was the former minister of science and technology from 2007 to 2018. In 2007, Chen Zhu was named head of the Ministry of Health, when he had no party affiliations. Huang Runqiu, member of the Jiusan Society, was appointed Minister of Ecology and Environment in 2020.

The Civil Service Law of China lists seven basic conditions for being a civil servant and none of them include CPC membership.

For more videos about the CPC: 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRwC8UAicR9mfX14nThgITkfo8HGjHsgv