Coal basin are a basic tectonic unit in the formation of coal measures. The occurrence and evolution of coal basin are related to their plate-tectonic positions. Plate tectonics appears to play an important role in the evolution of coal-bearing basins in China. As Plate tectonics influence the changes of the paleogeography, paleoclimate and paleobatany of coal basins, its evolution might control the formation and distribution of coal measures in the basins.