Li Zongren (1891-1969) headed the New Guangxi Clique (
新桂系) alongside Bai Chongxi. He commanded Chinese forces at the 1938 Battle of Tai'erzhuang — the first major Chinese victory over Japan. After Chiang Kai-shek's resignation in January 1949 he served as the ROC's acting president, fled to the US, and shocked Cold War politics by returning to mainland China in 1965, where he was welcomed by Zhou Enlai.
