From Defense Chiefs to Convicts: China Sentences Ex-Ministers to Death in Explosive Corruption Probe

China’s military court has sentenced two former Chinese defense ministers, Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, to suspended death penalties after finding them guilty in major corruption cases tied to bribery and abuse of office.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, the court on Thursday handed both men death sentences with a two-year reprieve, a punishment that is often commuted to life imprisonment under China’s legal system if the convicted individuals do not commit further offenses during the suspension period.

The report said Li was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes, while Wei was found guilty of accepting bribes.

Chinese authorities did not disclose the exact sums involved or provide detailed evidence presented during the trials, although earlier investigations accused both men of taking “massive bribes” and using their senior military positions for personal gain.

The convictions mark one of the most significant developments in President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign within the Chinese military.

Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has repeatedly pledged to eliminate corruption from the armed forces, describing graft as a major threat to military discipline and national security.

Both Li and Wei once occupied some of the highest-ranking positions in China’s defense establishment.

Wei Fenghe served as defense minister from 2018 to 2023 and was previously commander of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, which oversees China’s strategic missile arsenal.

Li Shangfu succeeded Wei as defense minister in 2023 after previously heading the military’s Equipment Development Department, a powerful branch responsible for weapons procurement and military technology acquisitions.

Li’s abrupt disappearance from public view in 2023 had fueled speculation about internal investigations long before official confirmation emerged.

He was formally removed from office in October 2023. Wei, meanwhile, retired from his ministerial role earlier that year but later became entangled in the widening corruption probe targeting senior military officials.

In June 2024, the Chinese Communist Party expelled both men, accusing them of severe disciplinary violations, corruption, and damaging the credibility of the military leadership.

Party investigators alleged that their actions had seriously undermined the political integrity of the armed forces. The cases also highlight broader turmoil inside China’s military leadership.

The Central Military Commission, the top body overseeing the armed forces and chaired by Xi Jinping, has experienced an extraordinary shake-up since its current lineup was formed in 2022.

Of its seven members, five, including several senior generals and top commanders, have either been removed, investigated, or disciplined amid corruption allegations.

Analysts say the sweeping investigations reflect Xi’s determination to tighten political control over the military while ensuring loyalty within the ranks during a period of rising geopolitical tensions and rapid military modernization.

Critics, however, argue that the anti-corruption campaign may also serve as a mechanism for consolidating power within the Communist Party leadership.