Born in Zhejiang, China. Chen Li-Fu was a Chinese bureaucrat, politician, and anti-communist in the Republic of China In 1925, Chen formally joined the Kuomintang in San Francisco after receiving his master's degree in mining engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. On January 9, 1926, Chiang Kai-Shek hired Chen as his confidential secretary. Chen was later promoted in 1927 to head the Investigation Section of the Organization Department of the Kuomintang. In 1938, Chen was again promoted, becoming the minister of education. Chen held this position until 1944.Chen Lifu was the younger brother of Chen Guofu. As a result of the two brothers significant influence in the Kuomintang government, they formed a political faction known as the CC Clique.