China’s two former defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, were sentenced in the first instance by a military court on 7 May in separate bribery cases. Both were handed death sentences with a two-year reprieve, after which the penalty will be commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of sentence reduction or parole. They were also deprived of political rights for life and had all personal assets confiscated.
According to official Chinese media, the court found Wei Fenghe guilty of bribery. Li Shangfu was convicted of both bribery and offering bribes, with cumulative punishment leading to the same sentence. Both men previously served as members of the Central Military Commission, State Councillors, and Ministers of National Defence, making them among the highest-ranking officials caught in China’s recent military anti-corruption campaign.
Li Shangfu, 68, previously held senior posts including commander of the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre and head of the Central Military Commission’s Equipment Development Department. He succeeded Wei Fenghe as defence minister in March 2023 but was placed under investigation just months later in August 2023 for serious violations of discipline and law.
Wei Fenghe, 72, previously served as commander of the Rocket Force and defence minister from 2018 to 2023. He was investigated roughly one month after Li.
Observers believe both cases are linked to the 2023 corruption scandal within the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, involving senior figures across the Rocket Force, the Central Military Commission’s equipment department, and defence contractors. A number of senior generals, including former Rocket Force commanders, were dismissed or investigated.
Commentary:
The suspended death sentences of Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu mark a significant milestone in China’s ongoing military anti-corruption campaign. In recent years, President Xi Jinping has intensified efforts to tighten control over the armed forces, with multiple senior military figures removed. Even General Zhang Youxia, widely seen as one of Xi’s key military allies, reportedly faced removal, raising questions about internal dynamics within the military leadership.
While officially framed as anti-corruption, these moves also signal deeper political messaging. They suggest that within the Chinese Communist Party system, even the highest-ranking officials are not immune: perceived disloyalty or failure to align with the top leadership’s political direction can lead to rapid downfall and severe consequences.