China has handed down death sentences to two former defence ministers over corruption.
The state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday that the People’s Republic’s military court sentenced Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe to death for corruption, suspended for two years. Once this period has expired, the sentence will be commuted to life imprisonment.
Both men have also been stripped of their political rights for life, and their assets have been confiscated. According to Xinhua, an appeal is not possible.
Wei served as China's defence minister from 2018 to March 2023. He was succeeded by Li, who unexpectedly disappeared from public view at the end of August 2023 and was replaced after only a few months in office in October of the same year, without further explanation.
In June 2024, Li and Wei were expelled from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on corruption charges.
Li and Wei were both also members of the Central Military Commission, which commands the People’s Liberation Army.
The army, effectively the armed wing of the CCP, has been repeatedly rocked by corruption investigations at the highest levels since Li’s disappearance.
Most recently, the vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission came under suspicion and lost their posts on the body, which is headed by President Xi Jinping.
Corruption has long been considered widespread in China’s military and is seen as a means of climbing the ranks. However, critics warn that Xi has used the crackdown on corruption as an excuse to solidify his grip on power.
