Overview
- China’s military court, in Thursday’s rulings, convicted Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu of bribery and imposed death sentences with two-year reprieves that will convert to life without parole.
- Judges found Wei guilty of accepting bribes and Li guilty of both accepting and offering bribes, and they stripped both men of political rights for life and ordered full asset confiscation.
- Wei served as defense minister from 2018 to 2023 and earlier led the Rocket Force, while Li briefly held the defense post in 2023 after roles in weapons procurement and China’s space program.
- The verdicts follow a widening purge that has touched more than 100 senior officers since 2022 and reached top general Zhang Youxia in January, with analysts warning of strains on command continuity and readiness.
- State media did not release detailed evidence or the amounts involved, and the ‘death with a two-year reprieve’ penalty in China typically becomes life in prison if no further crimes occur during that period.