China Hands Suspended Death Sentences to Former Defence Ministers Over Corruption

China has sentenced two former defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, to death with a two-year reprieve over corruption and bribery offences, marking one of the harshest punishments handed to senior military officials in recent years.

According to Chinese state media outlet Xinhua, a military court found Wei guilty of accepting bribes, while Li was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes during their time in office.

Under Chinese law, a death sentence with a two-year reprieve is usually commuted to life imprisonment if the convict does not commit further crimes during the suspension period. In this case, both men are expected to serve life sentences without the possibility of parole or sentence reduction.

Wei Fenghe served as China’s defence minister from 2018 to 2023 and was succeeded by Li Shangfu, whose tenure lasted only a few months before he disappeared from public view in 2023 amid reports of an internal investigation.

The convictions form part of President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign, which has increasingly targeted the Chinese military and top officials within the People’s Liberation Army. Analysts say the crackdown is aimed at reinforcing discipline, loyalty and political control within the armed forces.

State media reports indicated that both former ministers were stripped of political rights for life and had all personal assets confiscated following the judgment.

Li Shangfu had previously been sanctioned by the United States over China’s purchase of Russian military equipment before becoming defence minister in 2023. His sudden removal later that year fueled speculation about a broader military purge within Beijing’s leadership circle.

The latest sentencing is being viewed as one of the strongest signals yet that Xi’s anti-graft campaign remains active more than a decade after it began in 2012.