China Sentences Two Former Defence Ministers to Suspended Death Penalty Over Corruption

China sentences two former defense ministers to suspended death penalties over corruption, intensifying President Xi Jinping’s ongoing military crackdown.

By Danielle Harper Coleman

China has sentenced two former defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, to suspended death sentences after they were found guilty of corruption-related offences, according to state media reports.

A military court ruled on Thursday that both men were guilty of accepting large-scale bribes during their time in office. Under Chinese law, a suspended death sentence means the punishment will be commuted to life imprisonment after two years, provided there are no further legal changes, and without the possibility of parole or sentence reduction.

State media outlet Xinhua reported that all personal assets belonging to the former ministers have been confiscated following the verdict.

Wei Fenghe served as China’s defence minister from 2018 to 2023, while Li Shangfu briefly held the position after replacing him in March 2023. Li’s tenure ended abruptly in October 2023 after he disappeared from public view, sparking widespread speculation before his eventual dismissal.

Investigations into both officials revealed allegations of receiving massive sums in bribes and abusing their positions for personal gain. Authorities also accused them of failing to meet political responsibilities and facilitating improper benefits in military and personnel appointments.

The sentencing comes amid an ongoing anti-corruption campaign within China’s military and political system, which has already led to the removal of several senior officials in recent years.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has repeatedly defended the crackdown, describing it as part of efforts to strengthen discipline within the armed forces. However, critics argue that the campaign has also been used to target political rivals and consolidate power within the ruling establishment.

In February, Xi made rare public comments acknowledging the military’s ongoing anti-corruption drive, stating that the armed forces had undergone “revolutionary tempering” through the process.

The latest verdict highlights the continued intensity of China’s internal purge, which remains one of the most far-reaching anti-corruption efforts in the country’s modern political history.