Li Shangfu

China has sentenced two former defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, to death with a two-year reprieve on corruption charges in a high-profile ruling that underscores President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign within the military.

According to state media, a military court found both men guilty of bribery and ordered the confiscation of all their personal assets. Under China’s legal system, suspended death sentences are typically commuted to life imprisonment after two years if no further offenses are committed, with no possibility of parole or sentence reduction.

Wei Fenghe served as China’s defence minister from 2018 until 2023, while Li Shangfu briefly held the post from March to October 2023 before being abruptly removed from office following his disappearance from public view. His sudden exit had fueled speculation about internal disciplinary action.

The ruling comes amid an intensifying purge of senior military officials as part of President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption drive, which has targeted both civilian and military leadership since he took office.

State media reports also highlight broader restructuring within China’s military leadership, including earlier removals of senior generals, as authorities seek to reinforce discipline and loyalty within the armed forces.

In a rare public comment earlier this year, Xi said the military had “undergone revolutionary tempering in the fight against corruption,” signaling continued enforcement of internal oversight measures.

Critics, however, argue the sweeping campaign has also served as a mechanism for consolidating political control and sidelining potential rivals within China’s power structure.