A Chinese military court on Thursday handed suspended death sentences to two former defence ministers after finding them guilty of corruption, according to state-run Xinhua News Agency.
Former defence minister Wei Fenghe was convicted of accepting bribes, while his successor Li Shangfu was found guilty of both accepting and offering bribes. The court sentenced both men to death with a two-year reprieve.
Under China’s legal system, suspended death penalties are often commuted to life imprisonment.
The verdicts mark the latest development in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted senior political and military officials for more than a decade.
The drive intensified further in recent months, culminating in the removal of top military figures in January. China’s Central Military Commission, once made up of 11 members, now has only one member besides Xi himself.
Analysts say the campaign has been used not only to tackle corruption but also to strengthen Xi’s political control and loyalty within the ruling elite. However, it remains unclear whether Wei or Li had any policy or political differences with the Chinese president.
Wei served as China’s defence minister from 2018 to 2023. Li replaced him but remained in office for only a few months before disappearing from public view. He was formally removed from office in October 2023.
Li spent much of his military career overseeing missile systems and procurement for the People’s Liberation Army. He had also faced US sanctions over China’s purchase of Russian military equipment.
The Communist Party expelled both men in 2024, a move widely seen as paving the way for prosecution and sentencing.
Current defence minister Dong Jun continues to serve in the role. However, observers noted that he was not appointed to the influential Central Military Commission, which traditionally includes the defence minister among its members.
