Original Source

Two former Chinese defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, have received suspended death sentences for corruption. The military court convicted Wei of accepting bribes and Li of both accepting and offering bribes. The sentences can be commuted to life imprisonment after two years.

Former Defence Ministers Convicted of Corruption

China's military court has handed suspended death sentences to two former defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, for corruption. According to state media on May 7, 2026, Wei was convicted of accepting bribes, while Li was found guilty of both taking and offering them. These sentences represent the harshest punishment for senior People's Liberation Army officers since Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign began in 2012.

In an official indictment, Wei was described as 'being disloyal and losing one's chastity,' a euphemism for betraying the party or being compromised by enemies. The military court did not disclose the specific amounts involved in the bribery cases. The suspended death sentence means that after two years, the sentence will be commutable to life in prison, without the possibility of commutation or parole. Both were kicked out of the Communist Party and stripped of all military ranks and positions in June 2024.

Short Tenures and Intensified Anti-Corruption Drive

Li Shangfu served as China's shortest-serving defence minister, holding the post from March to October 2023. His predecessor, Wei Fenghe, served from 2018 to 2023. Beijing announced an investigation into Li in August 2023, followed by Wei the subsequent month. These sentences underscore President Xi Jinping's ongoing and intensified anti-corruption campaign, which aims to solidify discipline and loyalty within the military.

*Source: YouTube: SCMP (2026-05-08)*

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