Beijing has issued one of its harshest rulings yet in its sweeping anti-corruption crackdown within the military.
Former Chinese defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, who were tried on corruption and bribery charges, were sentenced by a military court to death with a two-year reprieve.
The Military Court of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army ruled that both former defense ministers had accepted bribes and sentenced them to capital punishment.
Under the ruling, if the defendants commit no new crimes during the two-year suspension period, their sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The court also ordered the confiscation of all their assets and the revocation of their political rights.
Corruption Network Within Strategic Units
The sentences are being viewed as part of the large-scale purge operation that has been ongoing within the Chinese military for the past three years. The investigations have focused on the Rocket Force, which oversees the country’s nuclear capabilities and strategic missile systems, as well as the Equipment Development Department responsible for military modernization.
Both Wei and Li previously held senior command positions in these critical units before later becoming defense ministers. However, following the investigations, they were first expelled from the Communist Party and the military over allegations of bribery and abuse of power, and were subsequently brought before the courts.
Discipline and Purge Process Within the Military
The investigations, intensified under the orders of Chinese President Xi Jinping, have triggered major changes within the upper ranks of the armed forces.
Over the past few years, dozens of high-ranking officers and members of parliament have been dismissed from their positions and referred to the judicial system due to corruption allegations.
These purges, particularly within strategically important units, are being interpreted as part of China’s effort to restore internal military discipline and increase transparency in defense spending.
The ruling once again confirmed that Beijing’s zero-tolerance policy extends even to the highest-ranking bureaucrats.