After the death of Yuan Shikai, the second President of the Republic of China, China had fragmented into numerous fiefdoms ruled by warlords.

Sun Yat-sen, the first provisional president when the Republic of China (ROC) was founded in 1912 and later co-founder of the Kuomintang (KMT), serving as its first leader.

had attempted in 1917 and 1920 to set up a base in his native Guangdong to launch a northern campaign to unite China under his Three Principles of the People.

However, his government had remained militarily weaker than local warlords’ armies.

Calls by Sun for arms and money had been ignored by the western powers.

Then in 1921, the representative of Comintern, Henk Sneevliet (using the name Maring), had met with Sun in Guangxi, proposing to set up a military academy and train the revolutionary army.

As this had confirmed Sun's ideas, he had accepted this with no hesitation.

The Communist Party of China had sent Li Dazhao and Lin Boqu to discuss with Sun and his party on how to set up this academy.

In 1924, in the 1st National Congress of Kuomintang, the policy of alliance with the Soviet Union and CPC is passed as guidance for KMT.

As a result, the final decision of establishment of a military academy is made and a preparatory committee is set up accordingly.

The Soviets provide the money necessary for the construction and support of the Academy in 1924-1925.

Thus the Kuomintang, or KMT, now an alliance of convenience between China’s Nationalists and Communists begins, in 1924, to be reorganized along Leninist lines.

The Whampoa Military Academy officially opens on June 16, 1924.