A Chinese military court has handed suspended death sentences to two former defense ministers, Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, following convictions on bribery charges, according to reporting by ABC News.
The sentences mark one of the most high-profile outcomes of China's ongoing anti-corruption campaign within the People's Liberation Army. Both men previously held some of the most powerful positions in the country's military establishment.
Suspended death sentences in China's legal system typically mean the condemned will not face execution if they do not commit further crimes during a two-year review period. In practice, such sentences are almost always commuted to life imprisonment.
Who are the two ministers?
Wei Fenghe served as China's defense minister from 2018 to 2022. He was a senior general and member of the Central Military Commission, China's top military decision-making body, before his removal from public life.
Li Shangfu succeeded Wei as defense minister in March 2023 but disappeared from public view just months into his tenure. He was formally removed from his post in October 2023 after being placed under investigation. His unusually brief and abrupt tenure had drawn significant international attention at the time.
Part of a broader military purge
The sentencing of both men is part of a sweeping anti-corruption drive that has targeted senior figures across China's military leadership in recent years. Several high-ranking officers and officials connected to the PLA Rocket Force and military equipment procurement have faced investigation or removal.
President Xi Jinping has made anti-corruption efforts a central pillar of his leadership since coming to power in 2012, framing them as essential to strengthening party discipline and military readiness.
Critics and outside analysts have noted that the campaigns also serve to consolidate Xi's control over key institutions, though Chinese authorities consistently describe the prosecutions as legitimate legal proceedings.
International context
The cases drew particular attention abroad given that both men held positions involving direct engagement with foreign governments and militaries. Li Shangfu was sanctioned by the United States in 2018 over arms purchases from Russia, which complicated diplomatic exchanges during his short time as defense minister.
Chinese authorities have not released detailed evidence from the court proceedings, which is consistent with the handling of other high-profile corruption cases in the country.
