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Court delivers suspended death sentences to former defence chiefs
China's military court has imposed suspended death sentences on two former defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, for bribery, state media confirmed on Thursday.
Sentencing details
The court ruled that both men would face execution with a two-year reprieve, meaning their sentences will automatically convert to life imprisonment after the probation period. Neither will be eligible for sentence reductions or parole, according to Xinhua, the state-run news agency.
Their personal assets have also been confiscated as part of the verdict.
Background of the convictions
Wei, who served as defence minister from 2018 to 2023, was succeeded by Li in March of that year. Li's tenure proved brief; he was removed from office in October 2023, two months after vanishing from public view, fueling speculation about his dismissal.
Investigations revealed that Li had allegedly accepted "huge sums of money" in bribes and used his position to benefit others, as reported by Reuters citing earlier Xinhua accounts. The probe concluded he had "failed to fulfill political responsibilities" and "pursued personal gains."
Wei's case
A separate inquiry into Wei, launched in 2023, found he had taken "a massive amount of money and valuables" in bribes and "facilitated improper advantages for others in personnel decisions," Xinhua stated.
Broader anti-corruption campaign
The convictions follow a string of high-profile removals within China's military leadership, including the recent ousting of top general Zhang Youxia. President Xi Jinping publicly addressed the crackdown in February, describing it as a "revolutionary tempering" of the armed forces.
Since taking power, Xi has spearheaded multiple anti-corruption drives, which critics argue have also served as a means to sideline political opponents.
Reactions and implications
The sentences underscore the intensity of Beijing's ongoing purge within the military and state apparatus, with no senior official appearing immune from scrutiny.
