China sentences two former defense ministers to death with reprieve for bribery

China has handed suspended death sentences to two former defense ministers, Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, after they were found guilty of bribery. The sentences, announced by a Chinese court, mean the two men will not be executed immediately but face a two-year reprieve, after which the sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment if they show good behavior.

The case is part of a broader anti-corruption campaign under President Xi Jinping, targeting high-ranking military officials. Both men were removed from their posts in 2023 and investigated for taking bribes. The suspended death penalty is the harshest punishment short of execution in China's legal system.