A wireless communication apparatus includes a variable power amplifier (19) and a power amplifier (20). A variable power amplifier control unit (24) controls the gain of the variable power amplifier (19) for controlling transmission power of the own apparatus. At this time, a condition change detecting unit (28) detects changes in conditions of the own station and a counter station. Based upon the detected condition changes, a transmission power control bit controlling unit (26) and a transmission power control period controlling unit (27) change a control period of a transmission power control bit and a transmission power control range. This transmission power control bit is inserted into a transmission signal, then, the transmission signal is transmitted to the counter station. The condition changes are detected based upon reception power, transmission power, the transmission power control bit, a change amount of control conditions, and a change speed of the control conditions.