1948 Chinese General Election

A snap general election was held in the State of China on 30 October 1948 to elect 850 members of the House of Representatives. It has seen the victory of the Labour Party over the Kuomintang, and Xu Diuheng was soon designed as the Prime Minister of China. It marked the first time the Kuomintang registered a defeat since 1898.

Background
Prime Minister Chiang Kai Shek asked Emperor Aisin Gioro Puyi to dissolve the parliament and call for early elections as an attempt to strengthen the slim majority of the KMT, so that the government could continue on it's agenda. Puyi signed the Royal Decree of Dissolution on 1 September, and elections were scheduled for 30 October. The Labour Party campaigned on the implementation of social welfare, increased spending, education and the connection of rural areas with urban ones.

In 1948, the Communist insurrection led by Mao Zedong was essentially on low supplies and scarce manpower; the effective counter-insurgency activities led by the Kuomintang culminated in the capture of several prominent insurgents and commanders, which increased the rates of desertion. The previous reforms on the National Armed Forces managed to prepare an effective government response. Meanwhile, the government continued to issue programs for the rapid reconstruction of the country; Chiang Kai Shek refused U.S. aid, claiming that China could rebuild on it's own; such policy was reversed under Diuheng premiership. The Kuomintang also settled the Mongolian Question by granting increased autonomy and expelled Soviet troops in the territory, further escalating tensions between the two nations.

Aftermath
The election was won by the Labour Party with a majority. Subsequently, the Emperor asked Diuheng to form a government, which was sworn in on 5 November.