Kuomintang / KMT / Nationalist Party

Founded by Sun Yat-Sen the Nationalist Party was strongly linked to the Overseas Chinese and dominated China government from 1911 until 1949.

The Kuomintang or Nationalist Party was founded by Sun Yat-sen in the years before the 1911 revolution and was largely supported by Chinese people of the diaspora. After 1911 the party stronghold was in Canton and received much money from overseas and maintained a network of branches in places such as Sydney and Melbourne. 

From the 1920s KMT branches operated throughout Australia with wide membership and close links with the Chinese Consul

In 1928 the new leader Chang Kai Shek extended the control over the Nationalist Party over all of China and continued its networking overseas. These links became especially important as the Japanese invaded and the overseas branches become important in organising fundraising and raising awareness of China plight among non-Chinese communities.

After 1949 the KMT fled to Taiwan and its branches continued to support its government. Gradually these Cantonese dominated branches became isolated from the local communities, especially after the US and Australian recognition of the PRC government.