Although China is effectively a one-party state, other political parties are allowed.
The Chinese Constitution states that The system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China will continue and develop long into the future.
While the CCP rules the country, there are eight minor parties which can participate in China's political system:
Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang
China Democratic League
China National Democratic Construction Association
China Association for Promoting Democracy
Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party
China Zhi Gong Party
Jiusan Society
Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League
According to the National Bureau of China, CCP membership figures in 2023 stand at 96.7 million members. The next largest party is the China Democratic League. It has a membership figure of around 330,600.
Officials from minor parties can help shape national policies, although this is mostly limited to a consultative role – doing research, making proposals and giving advice.
While the Communist Party’s central committees set nationwide policy through documents such as the five-year plans, the eight other parties and their branches help to provide advice on how to implement targets on a more local scale.
