Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu Sentenced to Death with Reprieve; PLA Daily: 'Self-Inflicted, Deserved Punishment'
Former Chinese Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve for corruption. The PLA Daily criticized them for 'collapse of faith and disloyalty,' stating the verdict reflects the Central Military Commission's firm resolve to combat corruption.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 8, 2026 at 11:41
- 🔍 Collected: May 8, 2026 at 12:01 (20 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 02:35 (14h 33m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Taipei, May 8) Former Chinese Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in a first-instance military court judgment yesterday due to corruption. The PLA Daily published a commentary today, stating that Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu "suffered a collapse of faith and disloyalty," and that their legal punishment was "entirely their own doing, a consequence of their own actions, and self-inflicted." The verdict fully reflects the firm determination and will of the Central Military Commission to punish corruption without wavering.
The PLA Daily today published a commentary titled "Firmly Oppose Corruption, Severely Punish Graft," stating that the military judicial organs have lawfully heard the cases of Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu and rendered a first-instance judgment. This fully embodies the Party Central Committee's firm determination to comprehensively govern the Party and the military with strict discipline, and demonstrates the Party Central Committee's and the Central Military Commission's unwavering resolve to punish corruption. This holds significant meaning for deterring corrupt elements and boosting morale within the military.
The article stated that the military holds weapons, and there must be no individuals disloyal to the Party, nor any place for corrupt elements to hide within the military. Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, as high-ranking leading cadres of the Party and the military, "suffered a collapse of faith and disloyalty, abandoned their original mission, and lost their Party principles." Their actions betrayed the trust and heavy responsibility placed upon them by the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, severely polluted the political ecosystem of the armed forces, and caused immense damage to the Party's cause, national defense, military construction, and the image of high-ranking leading cadres. The nature of their crimes is extremely serious, the impact is extremely negative, and the harm is particularly great. Their legal punishment is "entirely their own doing, a consequence of their own actions, and self-inflicted."
The article further stated that the lawful handling of the cases of Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu once again demonstrates that, regardless of who it is, no matter how high their position or how great their power, all are equal before Party discipline and state law. Corruption will never be tolerated. For those who disregard authority and defy the law, all instances will be investigated, no matter how many are involved or how deeply implicated they are. There is no "iron certificate of immunity" or "iron-hatted king" to escape punishment.
The article also pointed out that the anti-corruption struggle is related to the Party's absolute leadership over the military, the nature and purpose of the People's Liberation Army, and the long-term stability of the Party and the state. Military Party members and cadres, especially high-ranking cadres, should take corrupt elements like Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, who have been investigated and punished, as negative examples, and take the lead in strengthening revolutionary tempering, forging a political soul loyal to the Party, and building a strong ideological defense against corruption.
The article stated that the entire military must rally more closely around the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping as its core, adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guide, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military, thoroughly implement the new era military strategic guidelines, and implement the Central Military Commission chairman responsibility system, "always loyal to the core, uphold the core, safeguard the core, and defend the core," and must maintain strict discipline and law, to greet the 100th anniversary of the founding of the army with a brand new political outlook. (Editor: Chen Kaiyu) 1150508
(Central News Agency, Taipei, May 8) Former Chinese Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in a first-instance military court judgment yesterday due to corruption. The PLA Daily published a commentary today, stating that Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu "suffered a collapse of faith and disloyalty," and that their legal punishment was "entirely their own doing, a consequence of their own actions, and self-inflicted." The verdict fully reflects the firm determination and will of the Central Military Commission to punish corruption without wavering.
The PLA Daily today published a commentary titled "Firmly Oppose Corruption, Severely Punish Graft," stating that the military judicial organs have lawfully heard the cases of Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu and rendered a first-instance judgment. This fully embodies the Party Central Committee's firm determination to comprehensively govern the Party and the military with strict discipline, and demonstrates the Party Central Committee's and the Central Military Commission's unwavering resolve to punish corruption. This holds significant meaning for deterring corrupt elements and boosting morale within the military.
The article stated that the military holds weapons, and there must be no individuals disloyal to the Party, nor any place for corrupt elements to hide within the military. Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, as high-ranking leading cadres of the Party and the military, "suffered a collapse of faith and disloyalty, abandoned their original mission, and lost their Party principles." Their actions betrayed the trust and heavy responsibility placed upon them by the Party Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, severely polluted the political ecosystem of the armed forces, and caused immense damage to the Party's cause, national defense, military construction, and the image of high-ranking leading cadres. The nature of their crimes is extremely serious, the impact is extremely negative, and the harm is particularly great. Their legal punishment is "entirely their own doing, a consequence of their own actions, and self-inflicted."
The article further stated that the lawful handling of the cases of Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu once again demonstrates that, regardless of who it is, no matter how high their position or how great their power, all are equal before Party discipline and state law. Corruption will never be tolerated. For those who disregard authority and defy the law, all instances will be investigated, no matter how many are involved or how deeply implicated they are. There is no "iron certificate of immunity" or "iron-hatted king" to escape punishment.
The article also pointed out that the anti-corruption struggle is related to the Party's absolute leadership over the military, the nature and purpose of the People's Liberation Army, and the long-term stability of the Party and the state. Military Party members and cadres, especially high-ranking cadres, should take corrupt elements like Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, who have been investigated and punished, as negative examples, and take the lead in strengthening revolutionary tempering, forging a political soul loyal to the Party, and building a strong ideological defense against corruption.
The article stated that the entire military must rally more closely around the Party Central Committee with Xi Jinping as its core, adhere to Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guide, thoroughly implement Xi Jinping's thought on strengthening the military, thoroughly implement the new era military strategic guidelines, and implement the Central Military Commission chairman responsibility system, "always loyal to the core, uphold the core, safeguard the core, and defend the core," and must maintain strict discipline and law, to greet the 100th anniversary of the founding of the army with a brand new political outlook. (Editor: Chen Kaiyu) 1150508