Beijing, May 7, 2026 — China has sentenced two former defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, to death with a two-year reprieve on corruption charges, according to Chinese state media.
The sentences were announced on Thursday by a military court, which found both men guilty of accepting bribes during their time in office. Under China’s legal system,
a suspended death sentence is typically commuted to life imprisonment after two years if the convicted individuals do not commit further crimes during that period. State news agency Xinhua reported that neither man would be eligible for sentence reduction or parole.
Authorities also ordered the confiscation of all personal assets belonging to the two former officials.
The ruling marks another significant development in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s extensive anti-corruption campaign targeting senior figures within the country’s military establishment.
Wei Fenghe served as China’s defence minister from 2018 until 2023. He was replaced by Li Shangfu in March 2023, but Li’s tenure lasted only a few months before he disappeared from public view, fueling speculation over his political fate. He was formally dismissed from office in October 2023.
The sentences come amid broader upheaval within China’s military leadership. Several high-ranking military officials have recently been removed from their positions as Beijing deepens investigations into corruption and misconduct within the armed forces.
Earlier this year, Xi Jinping publicly addressed the military crackdown, stating that the People’s Liberation Army had “undergone revolutionary tempering in the fight against corruption.”
Since assuming power, Xi has overseen multiple waves of anti-corruption drives across the Communist Party, government institutions, and military. While Beijing portrays the campaign as an effort to strengthen discipline and governance, critics argue it has also served as a mechanism to eliminate political rivals and consolidate Xi’s control over the country’s power structure.
