China jails former defence official Zhang Jianhua for 10 years in graft case

A Chinese court sentenced former defence official Zhang Jianhua to 10 years for taking bribes. The ruling underscores Xi Jinping's continuing anti-graft purge across the military establishment.

In Short

• Court said Zhang accepted bribes worth over 43 million yuan
• Authorities ordered confiscation of illicit gains and transfer to state treasury
• Zhang earlier held senior roles at state defence giant Norinco

Former deputy head of China's Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence Zhang Jianhua has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for corruption, in the latest action against a senior defence official under President Xi Jinping's anti-graft campaign.

A court in China on Wednesday sentenced Zhang for accepting bribes worth more than 43 million yuan (USD 6.3 million). The case is the latest in a series of punishments handed out to senior military and defence officials since Xi took power in 2012.

The Intermediate People's Court of Dazhou ordered that all illicit gains and related proceeds be confiscated and recovered, and said the money would be turned over to the state treasury, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

Zhang was among the prominent officials of China North Industries Group Corporation, a state-owned defence company responsible for the research, development and production of heavy equipment such as tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery and missiles.

The court held that Zhang was guilty of accepting bribes and using his influence to secure illegal benefits, with the sums involved in both offences classified as "especially large" under Chinese law. It said he received a lighter sentence because some of the offences were attempts rather than completed crimes, and because he voluntarily surrendered, confessed and disclosed additional bribery-related facts that were previously unknown to investigators.

Zhang's conviction comes amid Xi's sweeping anti-corruption campaign, which has led to action against a large number of senior military officers and defence officials. According to estimates by the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies, more than 100 senior military officers, including 13 full generals, 18 lieutenant generals and more than 50 major generals, have been publicly disciplined or prosecuted during Xi's tenure.

Among those punished are former Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Gen Guo Boxiong, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016, and former Chief of Joint Staff Fang Fenghui, who received a life sentence in 2019. Former defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu have also been convicted on corruption charges and handed suspended death sentences.

The anti-corruption drive has also resulted in a major reshuffle within the People's Liberation Army, with a new generation of officers moving into key leadership roles after the removal of several senior commanders, according to analysis by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post. Zhang's sentencing is the latest example of the campaign's reach across China's military and defence establishment.

With PTI Inputs

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