Two Former Chinese Defence Ministers Sentenced to Death on Corruption Charges
Beijing (ANTARA) - A Chinese military court on Thursday (7/5) imposed death sentences with a two-year reprieve on two former Chinese defence ministers in two separate corruption cases.
Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, both former members of the Central Military Commission and former State Councillors, have been stripped of their political rights for life and had all their personal assets confiscated. Wei was found guilty of accepting bribes, while Li was convicted of accepting and offering bribes, according to state media reports.
The court ruling also stated that there would be no further sentence reductions or parole after their sentences are commuted to life imprisonment in accordance with the law at the end of the two-year reprieve period.
In China, a death sentence with a reprieve is typically commuted to life imprisonment if the convict commits no new violations during the two-year period. The sentence may be further reduced based on good behaviour during imprisonment.
Wei Fenghe (72 years old) hails from Shandong province, joined the military in 1970, and became a member of the Chinese Communist Party two years later. He became a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the Rocket Force in 2012 and was appointed as a State Councillor and Minister of National Defence from 2018 to 2023.
In September 2023, the CMC’s Discipline and Supervision Agency initiated an investigation into Wei for serious violations of party discipline and national law. He was accused of failing to fulfil his political responsibilities, resisting the investigation, seeking personal gain for others, accepting a large amount of money as bribes, and committing other serious violations.
The investigation results stated that Wei could no longer be trusted and had lost his loyalty.
“His actions betrayed the trust placed in him, severely damaged the political environment in the military, and caused significant harm to the Party’s goals, national defence, military development, and the image of senior military officers,” state media reported.
Meanwhile, Li Shangfu (68 years old) from Jiangxi province joined the CCP in 1980 and enlisted in the military two years later. He became a CMC member in 2022 and was appointed as a State Councillor representing the Army, later becoming Minister of National Defence in March 2023.
Li came under investigation in August 2023. Investigators found that he failed to fulfil his political responsibilities, resisted the investigation, violated organisational discipline by seeking personal gain for himself and others, accepted and offered a large amount of money as bribes, and committed other serious violations.
“Li abandoned his original ideals and ignored party principles. His actions severely damaged the political environment in the military equipment sector and work ethic, causing significant harm to the Party’s goals, national defence, military development, and the image of senior military officers,” it was stated.
The cases against Wei and Li were handed over to military prosecutorial authorities after they were expelled from the CCP in June 2024.
Previously, the Central Military Commission (CMC) had decided to expel Wei from the military and revoke his general’s rank in the Rocket Force (responsible for China’s nuclear arsenal), as well as expel Li from the military and revoke his general’s rank in the Army.
These sentences represent the latest step in China’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts within the military.
Before the sentences for Wei and Li, the Chinese government had also dismissed Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia in January 2026. Zhang was the number two figure in the national defence body led by President Xi Jinping.
According to the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, 36 generals and lieutenant generals have been officially dismissed since 2022.