A Chinese military court has imposed suspended death sentences on former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu for bribery, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
Wei Fenghe received a death sentence with a two-year reprieve for accepting bribes. Li Shangfu was found guilty of both accepting and offering bribes and received the same sentence.
In China, suspended death sentences are frequently commuted to life in prison.
These latest sentences highlight President Xi Jinping's ongoing campaign against corruption, which began over a decade ago. This campaign has intensified in recent years, resulting in significant purges within the military leadership.
Since Xi's anti-corruption drive began, the Central Military Commission, which once had 11 members, now comprises only Xi and one other member.
The motives behind the sentencing remain somewhat unclear, as it is unknown if either Wei or Li had any political disagreements with Xi.
Wei served as defense minister from 2018 to 2023, while Li, who took over from him, was removed from office in October 2023 after a brief tenure.
Li was known for his expertise in missile and procurement within the People's Liberation Army and had previously faced U.S. sanctions over Russian military purchases.
Both former ministers were expelled from the Communist Party in 2024, marking a decisive end to their political careers.
Currently, Dong Jun holds the position of defense minister, but experts point out that he has not been appointed to the Central Military Commission, a typical move for someone in his role.