Two former Chinese defense ministers, Wei Fenghe (72) and Li Shangfu (68), received death sentences with two-year reprieves on May 7 after military court graft convictions. Both were expelled from the Communist Party in June 2024, stripped of political rights for life, and ordered to forfeit personal assets. Authorities say the reprieves will be converted to life imprisonment without parole if no further crimes occur. The verdicts are seen as a major escalation of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign and have prompted concerns about possible disruption to military command and readiness.
Suspended Death Sentences for Two Ex‑Chinese Defense Ministers in Xi’s Anti‑Corruption Drive
Xi's anti-corruption crackdown sentences former Chinese defense ministers to death
Two former Chinese defense ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, were sentenced to death with two-year reprieves on May 7 after military court convictions for graft, state media reported. The rulings are among the most severe penalties imposed on senior military officials in recent years and underscore the intensity of President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption campaign within the armed forces.
Wei Fenghe served as China’s defense minister from 2018 to 2023(Reuters)
Verdict and Penalties
According to state media citing military court documents, Wei, 72, was convicted of accepting bribes, while Li, 68, was found guilty of both accepting and offering bribes. Both men were stripped of their political rights for life, ordered to forfeit all personal property, and expelled from the Communist Party in June 2024.
Former Defence Minister Li Shangfu was the successor to Wei
Under Chinese law a death sentence with a two-year reprieve is typically commuted to a prison term if the convicted person commits no further crimes during the suspension. Authorities have specified that, after the two-year reprieve, the sentences will be converted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or further commutation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping walks with soldiers in uniform as the House Select Committee on China raises concerns about taxpayer dollars going to CCP-linked entities.
Background
Wei served as China’s defense minister from 2018 to 2023. Li succeeded him but served only a few months. Both men were former state councillors and members of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the top military leadership body chaired by Xi. Each previously led the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, the branch responsible for China’s nuclear and conventional missile forces.
Implications and Reactions
Observers say the sentences reflect an escalation of Xi’s efforts to root out corruption in the People’s Liberation Army, a campaign that began after he took power in 2012 and intensified in 2023 when probes reached elite units including the Rocket Force. Singapore-based security scholar James Char described the punishments as among the severest imposed on CMC members in recent history, noting that the decision to convert reprieves into life terms without parole highlights the gravity of the offenses.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) has warned that such high-level purges risk disrupting military command structures and could affect the readiness of a rapidly modernizing force. Analysts and defense observers will be watching for further developments and any impact on China’s strategic posture.
Help us improve.
