China Hands Suspended Death Sentences to Former Defence Ministers

China has sentenced former defence ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe to death with a two-year reprieve in a major military corruption case that highlights President Xi Jinping’s ongoing crackdown on graft inside the armed forces. The two former senior officials were convicted on bribery-related charges after investigations by military authorities, according to Chinese state media.

BEIJING — China has sentenced two former defence ministers to death with a two-year reprieve after they were convicted on corruption charges, in one of the most significant military corruption cases in recent years.

Chinese state media reported on Thursday that former defence ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe were found guilty in separate military court proceedings linked to bribery and abuse of power.

According to official reports, Wei Fenghe was accused of accepting “especially huge” bribes and using his position to benefit others in military appointments and procurement matters. Li Shangfu was convicted of accepting and offering bribes during his time overseeing military equipment development and procurement.

Both men received death sentences with a two-year suspension, a legal mechanism in China that is commonly commuted to life imprisonment if the individuals do not commit further offences during the reprieve period. Authorities also ordered the confiscation of personal assets and stripped both former officials of political rights for life.

The sentences mark a dramatic fall for two of China’s highest-ranking military figures and underline President Xi Jinping’s continued anti-corruption campaign within the People’s Liberation Army.

Wei Fenghe served as China’s defence minister from 2018 to 2023 and was previously a senior commander in the country’s missile forces. Li Shangfu succeeded Wei in 2023 but disappeared from public view only months after taking office, fuelling speculation about an internal investigation before his later dismissal.

Both men were expelled from the Communist Party last year after Chinese authorities accused them of serious disciplinary and legal violations.

China’s military anti-corruption campaign has intensified over the past two years, with multiple senior officers and defence industry executives removed from their positions. Analysts say the investigations reflect Xi Jinping’s efforts to strengthen political loyalty and tighten control over the armed forces amid growing geopolitical tensions.

The trials were conducted behind closed doors, and Chinese authorities released only limited details about the proceedings.

State media did not indicate whether either former minister plans to appeal the verdicts.