China has sentenced two of its former defense ministers to death with a two-year reprieve in a major corruption case that has shaken the country’s military leadership.
State media reported on Thursday, May 7, 2026, that Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were convicted by a military court of serious bribery offenses, in a ruling seen as one of the harshest in China’s long-running anti-corruption campaign.
Wei was found guilty of accepting large bribes while in office, while Li was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes in exchange for favors and influence.
Both men had earlier been expelled from the ruling Communist Party in 2024 after investigations uncovered extensive misconduct.
The two-year reprieve attached to their death sentences means they are unlikely to be executed.
Fall From Power
Under Chinese law, such sentences are typically commuted to life imprisonment if the offenders do not commit further crimes during the suspension period.
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The sentencing marks a dramatic fall from power for two of China’s most senior military figures.
Wei Fenghe served as defense minister from 2018 to 2023, while Li Shangfu briefly took over the role in 2023 before being removed after just a few months in office.
Both men were closely linked to the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, a key branch of the military responsible for China’s missile and nuclear arsenal.
Their downfall has raised serious concerns about discipline and loyalty within one of the country’s most sensitive defense units.
Investigations showed that the two used their positions of power to secure improper benefits, including influencing personnel decisions and taking large sums of money and valuables.
Authorities said their actions “seriously damaged” the political environment within the military and undermined trust in leadership.
Li was also accused of bribing others to advance his own interests, including in key appointments and organizational decisions.
Crackdown Intensifies in China
The case is the latest and most high-profile example of President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted both civilian and military leaders for more than a decade.
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Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has overseen the punishment of more than a million officials accused of corruption, in what is seen as both a cleanup effort and a move to tighten control over the Communist Party and armed forces.
In recent years, the crackdown has intensified within the military, with several senior generals and officials removed, investigated or jailed.
According to the campaign is aimed at strengthening discipline and ensuring loyalty at the highest levels of command.
The sentencing of Wei and Li stands out because of their seniority and the severity of the punishment.
Both were former members of the Central Military Commission, the top body overseeing China’s armed forces, and were once trusted figures within Xi’s inner circle.
Despite the harsh ruling, legal experts note that a death sentence with reprieve is often intended as a deterrent rather than a prelude to execution.
In most cases, it is reduced to life imprisonment, sometimes without the possibility of parole, especially in major corruption cases involving high-ranking officials.
The latest development sends a strong message that no official, regardless of rank, is immune from punishment in China’s anti-graft drive.
As the crackdown continues, attention is likely to remain focused on the military, where stability and loyalty are considered vital to national security.
