A composite ion exchange membrane having a high swelling resistance and
being superior in mechanical strength and ion conductivity can be
provided by means of an composite ion exchange membrane including an ion
exchange resin composition and a support membrane having a continuous
pore penetrating the support membrane, wherein the support membrane is
one which accepts the ion exchange resin composition within the pore, and
wherein the ion exchange resin composition is one which contains an ion
exchange resin containing, as a main component, an aromatic polyether
and/or its derivative, the aromatic polyether being obtained by mixing a
compound having a specific structure, an aromatic dihalogenated compound
and a bisphenol compound with a carbonate and/or a bicarbonate of an
alkali metal and polymerizing the mixture in an organic solvent.