China issues suspended death sentences to former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Politics

China issues suspended death sentences to former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

1 month ago

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China issues suspended death sentences to former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu

Credited from: NPR

Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu received suspended death sentences for corruption.
The sentences may be commuted to life imprisonment after a two-year reprieve.
This marks a significant development in Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign.

China has sentenced former defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to death with a two-year reprieve on corruption charges, according to state media Xinhua. The court found both men guilty of bribery, linked to a broader anti-corruption purge under President Xi Jinping. A suspended death sentence in China typically converts to life imprisonment if no further crimes are committed during the reprieve period, reports SCMP, Channel News Asia, BBC, India Times, and Reuters.

This decision follows the expulsion of both men from the Communist Party in 2024 due to what was termed as “serious violations of discipline,” indicating corruption. They were also stripped of their political rights and confiscated assets. Their sentences reflect a continuing campaign against corruption that has targeted high-ranking military officials since Xi came to power, according to India Times, Le Monde, and NPR.