A former Chinese defence minister, who suddenly disappeared after a single visit to Russia, has been sentenced to death for corruption
This was reported by Chinese state media, according to the BBC.
In addition to Shangfu, a military court sentenced Wei Fenghe — Shangfu’s predecessor — to death. Their sentences include a two-year reprieve — meaning that the death penalty will be commuted to life imprisonment after two years, with no possibility of a reduced sentence or parole.
All personal property belonging to the former officials has been confiscated. Wei held the post of defence minister from 2018 to 2023, and in March 2023 he was replaced by Shangfu. The latter remained in office for only a few months – he was dismissed in October 2023, two months after he suddenly disappeared from public life.
Shortly before his disappearance, Shangfu made his first and last visit to Russia, where he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Before becoming defence minister, Shangfu served as deputy commander of the Chinese Army’s Strategic Support Force, and from 2017 to 2022 he headed the Department of Troop Training and Logistics at the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China.
In 2018, he was hit with US sanctions for his involvement in the procurement of Russian Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 systems. Sources at the Financial Times, familiar with US intelligence data, claimed that the case against Shangfu, for which he was sentenced, was opened due to violations during the procurement of military equipment.
It is worth recalling that in early 2026, the media reported that large-scale ‘purges’ were taking place in China among disloyal and corrupt generals. At that time, in particular, an investigation was launched into China’s ‘General No. 1’, Zhang Yuxi.
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