China gives suspended death sentences to 2 former defense ministers accused of bribery
NBC News • • world
Key Points:
- Two former Chinese defense ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, received suspended death sentences for bribery, according to the official Xinhua News Agency, with sentences likely to be commuted to life imprisonment.
- The convictions are part of President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted senior military and political officials to consolidate loyalty and control within the Communist Party.
- Wei Fenghe served as defense minister from 2018 to 2023, while Li Shangfu briefly succeeded him before being removed from office in October 2023 amid allegations and U.S. sanctions related to Russian military purchases.
- Both men were expelled from the Communist Party in 2024, and their removal reflects Xi’s tightening grip on the military, as the Central Military Commission’s membership has been drastically reduced under his leadership.
- Li’s successor, Dong Jun, remains defense minister but was notably not appointed to the Central Military Commission, signaling a possible shift in the traditional power structure within China’s military leadership.
