China has handed suspended death sentences to two former defence ministers over corruption-related offences, in the latest high-profile development in the country’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting top military officials.
State media reported that a military court on Thursday sentenced former defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to death with a two-year reprieve after both men were found guilty of bribery.
Under Chinese law, the suspended death sentences are expected to be commuted to life imprisonment after two years without the possibility of parole or sentence reduction. Authorities have also confiscated all personal assets belonging to the two former officials.
Wei Fenghe served as China’s defence minister from 2018 to 2023 before being replaced by Li Shangfu in March 2023. Li’s tenure, however, was short-lived after he was dismissed in October 2023 following his sudden disappearance from public view, which fuelled speculation over an internal investigation.
Chinese state media reports indicate that Li Shangfu was accused of accepting huge sums of money in bribes and offering favours in return. Investigators reportedly concluded that he failed to fulfil his political responsibilities and sought personal benefits for himself and others.
Wei Fenghe was also accused of accepting large amounts of money and valuables in exchange for helping others secure improper advantages in military appointments and personnel arrangements.
The convictions come amid an intensified anti-corruption drive within China’s military establishment under President Xi Jinping. Several senior military officials have either been removed or investigated in recent years as authorities seek to tighten discipline within the armed forces.
Earlier this year, President Xi publicly referenced the military crackdown, saying the Chinese army had undergone what he described as “revolutionary tempering” in the fight against corruption.
Since assuming office, Xi Jinping has overseen multiple anti-corruption campaigns across China’s political and military institutions, though critics argue the efforts have also been used to sideline political rivals and consolidate power.
