China Hands Death Sentences to Two Ex-Defence Ministers in Corruption Case

Two former Chinese defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, have been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by a Chinese military court in a major corruption case that underscores the scale of Beijing’s ongoing anti-graft campaign within the armed forces.

According to state-run Xinhua reports, both former officials were found guilty of accepting large bribes , while Li Shangfu was additionally convicted of offering bribes , reflecting wider allegations of systemic corruption in military procurement and personnel decisions.

The court said Wei, who served as defence minister from 2018 to 2023, and Li, who held the post briefly in 2023, were also former members of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and had previously held senior roles in China’s defence establishment, including command-linked positions in sensitive military units.

Li Shangfu earlier headed the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force , a key strategic branch responsible for missile operations, while Wei Fenghe had risen through senior ranks before leading the defence ministry.

Both officials were expelled from the Communist Party in 2024 following internal disciplinary investigations for “serious violations of discipline,” a standard phrase used in China for corruption-related offences.

The court also ordered lifetime deprivation of political rights and confiscation of all personal assets , according to official rulings. After the two-year reprieve period, the sentences are expected to be commuted to life imprisonment without parole or further reduction , as per Chinese law.

The verdicts are part of President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption drive targeting the military, particularly the People’s Liberation Army, which has seen multiple high-ranking purges in recent years, including within strategic missile and procurement divisions.

Officials said the case highlights Beijing’s intensified effort to enforce discipline and consolidate control over the military leadership amid concerns over corruption in defence procurement systems and personnel promotions.