Kathmandu- Two former Chinese Defense Ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, have been sentenced to death on charges of corruption. According to the Chinese state news agency, Xinhua, a military court in China delivered the verdicts in separate cases. Wei was found guilty of accepting bribes, while Li was convicted of both seeking and accepting bribes.
Although both have been handed death sentences, reports indicate they have been granted a two-year reprieve (suspended death sentence). Both Wei and his successor, Li, were expelled from the ruling Communist Party of China in 2024. They also served as former members of the Central Military Commission, which is chaired by President Xi Jinping.
Wei Fenghe served as the Defense Minister from 2018 to 2023. His successor, Li Shangfu, held the position for only a few months before his removal. Notably, both men had previously led the People’s Liberation Army’s critical Rocket Force, an elite unit established in 2015 as part of President Xi’s military reform program.
Li Shangfu had been personally selected by Xi Jinping for the high-ranking defense post. However, following his removal, several other high-ranking officials within the Rocket Force were also purged under corruption allegations. The move is seen as part of a broader crackdown on the military’s top brass.
Since taking power in 2012, President Xi has spearheaded a massive anti-corruption campaign. Under this initiative, action has reportedly been taken against more than one million officials, including numerous high-ranking military officers and generals. The campaign is primarily focused on eliminating corruption within the Communist Party of China and consolidating military discipline.
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