China Sentences Two Former Defense Ministers to Death for Bribery

BEIJING (May 7, 2026) — A Chinese military court has handed down death sentences to two former defense ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, after finding them guilty of bribery. The sentences include a two-year reprieve, which in China typically means the punishment will eventually be changed to life in prison.

According to official reports, Wei was convicted of accepting bribes, while Li was found guilty of both giving and receiving them. These legal actions are the latest steps in President Xi Jinping’s long-running campaign to crack down on corruption and ensure loyalty within the country’s top leadership.

The move has significantly changed the face of China's military leadership. The Central Military Commission, a powerful group that once had 11 members, has been reduced to just one member besides President Xi himself.

Wei Fenghe served as the head of defense from 2018 to 2023. He was followed by Li Shangfu, who was in the role for only a few months before disappearing from public view and being removed from office in late 2023. Both men were kicked out of the Communist Party last year before their cases went to court.

While Dong Jun is the current defense minister, experts have noticed he has not been given the same high-level committee seats as his predecessors, suggesting a shift in how the military is being managed.

Li Shangfu Photo Source: Wikipedia

Wei Fenghe Photo Source: AP Photo/Andy Wong, File

Source:

BBC, May 7,2026

Reported by The Khmer Daily Desk