Highlights
- Tang Renjian, former Agriculture Minister of China, sentenced to death for bribery
- Court found he took 268 million yuan ($37.6 million) in bribes from 2007–2024
- Death sentence suspended for two years due to his confession
- Expelled from Communist Party and removed from post before trial
- Xi Jinping continues strong anti-corruption campaign
Death Sentence for Former Minister
A court in China has sentenced Tang Renjian, the country’s former Agriculture Minister, to death for bribery. The ruling was announced on Sunday by a court in Jilin province, according to state news agency Xinhua.
From 2007 to 2024, Tang accepted bribes worth 268 million yuan (around $37.6 million) in the form of cash and property.
Sentence Suspended for Two Years
The Changchun Intermediate People’s Court said Tang’s death sentence will be suspended for two years. This means the execution will not be carried out immediately because Tang confessed to his crimes.
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Expelled from Communist Party
In November last year, the Communist Party expelled Tang from the party. Six months before that, he was already removed from his position after facing investigation by the country’s anti-corruption watchdog.
Rapid Investigation and Other Cases
The investigation against Tang was completed quickly. Before this, investigations also began against Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe on similar corruption allegations.
Xi Jinping’s Anti-Corruption Drive
President Xi Jinping has been running a strict anti-corruption campaign since 2020. He ordered police, prosecutors, and judges to remain “loyal, pure, and trustworthy to the people.”
In January this year, Xi said:
“The biggest threat to China’s Communist Party is corruption, and it is still increasing.”
Tang’s Past Positions
From 2017 to 2020, Tang served as the Governor of Gansu province in western China. Later, he became the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs before his removal.
Source: Reuters
