China Court Sentences Former Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to Suspended Death Penalty for Bribery

A Chinese court has sentenced former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to death with a two-year reprieve after convicting them of bribery, according to state media reports cited across multiple outlets. The suspended death sentences mean that if the two-year period passes without further infractions, the sentences are typically commuted to life imprisonment.

Both men were found to have accepted and offered bribes during their tenures, though initial reports did not disclose specific amounts or details of the schemes.

Wei Fenghe served as defense minister from 2018 until 2023. Li Shangfu held the post from 2023 until his removal amid the investigation. The sentencing was reported by state media on Thursday. The court proceedings followed their earlier arrests on the corruption allegations. No further details on additional charges or co-conspirators were released in the initial announcements.

Chinese officials have described the cases as part of an ongoing anti-graft effort, with emphasis that no one is above accountability. The sentencing formula matches that applied in several other recent high-profile corruption cases involving senior military figures. The announcements were confirmed across international news outlets.