Two Former Chinese Defence Ministers Sentenced to Death in Corruption Case

Beijing, May 7: Two former Chinese defence ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, have been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve over corruption charges, state media reported on Thursday.

The verdict comes after both leaders were expelled from the ruling Communist Party in 2024 following investigations into alleged graft.

Wei Fenghe served as China’s defence minister from 2018 to 2023, while Li Shangfu held the post briefly before being removed from office. Li, an aerospace engineer and former head of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, was appointed to the position by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to official reports, the cases are part of a wider anti-corruption drive targeting senior officials within China’s military and political establishment.

The sentencing marks one of the most severe actions taken in recent years against high-ranking defence officials in China.