In a remarkable development amid an ongoing military purge, China announced on Thursday that two former defense ministers have been sentenced to suspended death penalties for corruption-related offenses.
Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, both convicted of bribery by the country’s military court, received death sentences with a two-year reprieve, as reported by state media.
Following this period, their sentences are expected to be commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Wei, aged 72, served as defense minister from 2018 until 2023, while Li, 68, succeeded him but held the position for less than eight months in 2023. Both officials were subjected to investigations by the military’s anti-corruption unit earlier this year.
Chinese President, Xi Jinping, has extended his crackdown on the armed forces to the highest ranks, most notably with the removal of General Zhang Youxia in January. Zhang, who had authority over Wei and Li, previously managed the military’s daily operations.
The extensive shake-up has affected a significant portion of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which comprises around 2 million personnel.
Reports indicate that over 100 officers may have been dismissed since 2022.
Since that time, thirty-six generals and lieutenant generals have been officially purged, while an additional sixty-five officers are either missing or suspected of being ousted, according to a report from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies published in February.
When considering positions that have been eliminated multiple times, the report reveals that fifty-two of the PLA’s senior leadership roles have been impacted.
This sweeping overhaul is part of President Xi’s long-term initiative to reform the PLA as he consolidates his power and advances military modernization efforts.
However, the extent of this unprecedented purge raises concerns regarding the military’s capability to execute complex operations, as noted by the authors of the report.
Following the downfall of Zhang and his deputy in January, an editorial in the official PLA Daily accused the former leaders of undermining President Xi’s authority while reinforcing his commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on corruption.
The ongoing investigations aim to “eliminate toxic influences” within the PLA and are intended to facilitate a comprehensive renewal of the armed forces, thereby injecting significant momentum into efforts to strengthen the military.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong