{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1726047,
        "msgid": "two-former-chinese-defence-ministers-sentenced-to-death-in-corruption-case-1778226948",
        "date": "2026-05-08 14:25:34",
        "title": "Two Former Chinese Defence Ministers Sentenced to Death in Corruption Case",
        "author": "",
        "source": "DETIK",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Politics",
        "summary": "Two former Chinese defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, have been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for bribery offences, meaning their punishment will convert to life imprisonment without parole if they show good behaviour. This ruling, which includes the confiscation of their personal assets, is part of President Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign targeting high-ranking military officials to strengthen party discipline. The cases highlight Xi's broader efforts since 2013 to purge corruption, which critics argue also serve to eliminate political rivals, with similar severe penalties imposed on other officials like former Agriculture Minister Tang Renjian.",
        "content": "<p>Two former Chinese defence ministers have been handed death sentences\nwith a two-year suspension for corruption charges, according to state\nmedia. On Thursday (07\/05), a Chinese military court imposed death\npenalties on Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu with a two-year reprieve. This\nmeans their death sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment after\ntwo years, without the possibility of sentence reduction or parole, as\nreported by the Xinhua news agency. In addition, the court ordered the\nconfiscation of all their personal assets. Both men were found guilty of\naccepting bribes. The announcement follows the removal of several senior\nmilitary figures in China amid a crackdown on corrupt officials. Wei\nFenghe served as defence minister from 2018 to 2023. He was replaced by\nLi Shangfu in March 2023. Li\u2019s tenure as defence minister was much\nshorter. He was dismissed in October 2023, two months after suddenly\ndisappearing from public life, which sparked speculation about his\nremoval. The Reuters news agency quoted Xinhua reports stating that Li\nwas suspected of receiving a \u201clarge amount of money\u201d in bribes and\nbribing others. The report added that the investigation found he \u201cfailed\nto fulfil political responsibilities\u201d and \u201csought personal gain for\nhimself and others\u201d. Meanwhile, an investigation launched against Wei in\n2023 found that he also accepted \u201ca large amount of money and valuables\u201d\nas bribes and \u201chelped others gain improper benefits in personnel\narrangements\u201d. In February, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a\ncrackdown within the military. Recently, one of the country\u2019s\nhighest-ranking military generals, Zhang Youxia, was removed from his\nposition. Xi stated at the time that the military had undergone\n\u201crevolutionary forging in the fight against corruption\u201d. Since taking\npower, President Xi has launched waves of anti-corruption campaigns,\nwhich critics say are also used as tools to eliminate political\nopponents. Since taking office as president in 2013, Xi Jinping has\ninstitutionalised an anti-corruption campaign, which has also been used\nto sideline political rivals. In September 2025, Tang Renjian, former\nChinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, was sentenced to\ndeath for a bribery case. Tang received bribes, including cash and\nproperty worth more than 268 million yuan (Rp627.3 billion) in various\npositions he held from 2007 to 2024, according to a report by the state\nnews agency Xinhua. The court in Changchun, Jilin Province, suspended\nhis death sentence for two years, noting that the individual had\nconfessed to his crimes. General Zhang Yang, a member of the Chinese\nCentral Military Commission, was investigated in connection with two\nsenior military officers who had been expelled from the party for\ncorruption cases. At the Communist Party of China Congress in October,\nPresident Xi Jinping vowed to intensify anti-corruption efforts, which\nhave ensnared 1.5 million party officials\u2014including high-ranking\nmilitary officers\u2014since being launched in 2012. The official Xinhua news\nagency reported that General Zhang, aged 66, was found dead by hanging\nat his home on 23 November 2017.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-former-chinese-defence-ministers-sentenced-to-death-in-corruption-case-1778226948",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}