BEIJING — China has sentenced former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to death with a two-year reprieve on corruption charges, state-run news agency Xinhua reported. The ruling represents the most severe disciplinary action taken against the military's top brass since President Xi Jinping launched a sweeping anti-graft campaign within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Li Shangfu, who was removed from office in 2023 after a months-long disappearance, was found guilty of 'serious violations' of political and organizational discipline. Disciplinary agencies reported that Li accepted large sums of money and valuables in exchange for favors and sought improper benefits in personnel arrangements. Li had already been expelled from the Communist Party and the Central Military Commission (CMC) prior to the sentencing.

Wei Fenghe, Li’s predecessor, was also convicted on similar graft allegations following a separate investigation. The dual sentencing follows a broader crackdown that resulted in the expulsion of nine top generals last year. The PLA Daily described the conduct of the purged officials as a 'total collapse of beliefs' that compromised the party’s authority over the armed forces and damaged military unity.

The Chinese government has not yet released the full details of the court rulings or the specific scale of the assets involved. The campaign is expected to continue as the Xi administration maintains its focus on tightening political control over the military hierarchy ahead of upcoming political transitions.