The Proposition of Establishing a Democratic Coalition Government

The political propositions put forward by the CPC in the late period of the Anti-Japanese War. In October 1943, in view of the Eleventh Plenary Session of the Fifth Central Committee of the KMT expressing its desire for "political settlement" and "preparation for constitutionalism", the CPC expressed its willingness to negotiate with the KMT.

From May 4, 1944 to September of the same year, Lin Boqu, the representative of the CPC Central Committee, and Zhang Zhizhong, the representative of the KMT, held many talks in Xi'an and Chongqing, but no results were achieved. At that time, the KMT Army collapsed in the battle of Henan, Hunan and Guangxi, which made the KMT lose the popular support and the movement of the people in the areas behind enemy lines demanding the Anti-Japanese War, freedom and democracy flourished.

On August 17, 1944, Mao Zedong wrote in Dong Biwu's telegram to Zhou Enlai: "We should consult with Zhang Lan and Zuo Shunsheng about the unite government with all Parties.”

On September 1, Mao Zedong said at the Presidium of the Seventh Plenary Session of the Sixth CPC Central Committee that the Party's proposition was: “to call representatives of all parties, to form a coalition government, to jointly resist Japan, and to build a nation in the future.”

On September 4, the CPC Central Committee called Lin Boqu, Dong Biwu and Wang Ruofei on the issue of restructuring the KMT to establish a coalition government, by pointing out: “At present, the time is ripe for our party to propose the idea of reorganizing the government to the KMT and at home and abroad, and its plan is to call all parties, factions, armies, local governments and mass organizations to hold state meetings, reorganize the central government, abolish the one party rule, and then form a new government to hold a national assembly, implement the constitutional government, implement the national policy of the Anti-Japanese War, and carry out the counter-offensive.” It was estimated that this proposition was absolutely unacceptable to the KMT at that period. But small parties, local power groups, progressives at home and abroad, and even enlightened members in the government would support this proposition. Therefore, this proposition aimed to prepare the Chinese people for the future political struggles, prepare the conditions for opposing the single-party rule of the KMT and the pseudo-National Assembly and the pseudo-constitution it wished to organize.

On September 15, Lin Boqu, on behalf of the Communist Party, formally put forward the idea of establishing a democratic coalition government at the third meeting of the Third National Political Assembly. Lin Boqu hoped that the KMT would immediately put an end to the one-party rule, that the KMT would convene representatives of all parties, anti-Japanese forces, local power groups and people's organizations to hold a National Assembly, organize coalition governments of all anti-Japanese parties, strengthen national unity, prepare for counter-offensive forces and defeat Japanese aggressors. The full text of Lin Boqu’s proposition was published in Xinhua Daily.

Consequently, the CPC put forward a plan to establish a democratic coalition government to the KMT authorities in a written form. The idea of "establishing a democratic coalition government" put forward by the CPC promoted the democratic movement in the areas behind the enemy lines.

On September 24, Zhang Lan, Shen Junru, Feng Yuxiang and other patriotic nationalists held a meeting in Chongqing, calling for democracy and an end to the one-party dictatorship of the KMT.

On October 10, Zhou Enlai delivered a speech on "How to Solve the Problem" in Yan'an, elaborating the specific steps and methods of implementing this proposition: Firstly, all parties should select representatives in proportion according to their actual strength. Secondly, the National Government should hold a National Assembly as soon as possible. Thirdly, according to the Three People's Principles, it should adopt a policy outline so as to surmount the crisis. Fourthly, a coalition government of all parties should be established on the basis of the jointly formulated policy outline. Fifthly, the coalition government should have the right to reorganize the army and set up a joint headquarter. Sixthly, after the establishment of the coalition government, it should begin to prepare for the National Assembly meeting and implement constitutionalism.

On the same day, the China Democratic League issued its “Political Proposition in the Final Stage of the War of Resistance”, calling for an immediate end to the one-party dictatorship, the establishment of a coalition regime of all parties and the implementation of democratic politics. On January 14, 1945, Wang Ruofei invited Shen Junru, Huang Yanpei and other representatives of the China Democratic League, to discuss the proposal of the CPC to hold a preparatory meeting of the National Assembly with the participation of the KMT, the CPC and the Democratic League, which was endorsed by the Democratic League.

On the 15th, the China Democratic League issued a declaration on the current situation, suggesting ten propositions: to end the one-party dictatorship immediately, to convene party meetings, to establish a coalition government, to safeguard people's freedoms, to recognize the legitimate status of all parties, and to release all political prisoners immediately.

The establishment of a democratic coalition government was a political proposition put forward by the CPC on behalf of the demands of all parties and the people and received positive responses from all democratic parties. However, the KMT authorities refused to establish a democratic coalition government.