China Sentences Two Former Defence Ministers to Suspended Death in Massive Military Purge
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BEIJING: A Chinese military court has sentenced former defence ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to death with a two-year reprieve, marking a dramatic peak in President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption campaign.
Under the terms of the sentencing, both men will likely face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole after the reprieve period expires.
Wei, who served from 2018 to 2023, and his successor Li, who held the post for just seven months, were also stripped of their political rights for life and saw their personal assets confiscated.
The convictions focus on severe graft; Wei was found guilty of accepting massive bribes, while Li was convicted of both accepting and offering bribes.
This ‘unprecedented purge’ has deeply impacted the People's Liberation Army, with reports suggesting that more than half of the military's top leadership positions have been affected since 2022.
Beyond individual corruption, analysts view these harsh sentences as a loud message from Xi Jinping to ensure absolute loyalty and discipline within the world's largest standing military force.
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