Beijing, China — In a significant move reflecting the Chinese Communist Party’s (CPC) commitment to discipline and integrity, former Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu have been expelled from the Party for “serious violations of Party discipline and the law,” according to an announcement by the CPC leadership on Thursday.
Wei and Li, who also previously served as members of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and as state councilors, have been stripped of their positions as delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress. The decision followed investigations launched by the CMC’s disciplinary and supervisory agency on September 21, 2023, for Wei, and August 31, 2023, for Li.
The investigations revealed that both officials had severely violated political and organizational discipline. Wei was found to have abused his position to grant improper benefits in personnel arrangements and accepted money and gifts in violation of relevant rules. He is accused of accepting substantial bribes, with the investigation uncovering additional violations.
Similarly, Li was found to have sought improper benefits for himself and others in personnel matters, exploited his positions for personal gain, and accepted significant bribes. He is also suspected of offering bribes to others to secure undue advantages, with further violations discovered during the investigation.
The CPC Central Committee described the actions of Wei and Li as a betrayal of the Party’s principles and a severe breach of trust. Their conduct has been deemed to have severely tarnished the political environment within the military and caused considerable damage to the Party’s cause, national defense development, and the reputation of senior officials.
An earlier decision by the CMC resulted in both Wei and Li being expelled from military service and deprived of their ranks of general. The CPC Central Committee is set to confirm the disciplinary actions during a plenary session scheduled for mid-July.
The cases of Wei and Li have been transferred to the military’s procuratorial organs for further examination and prosecution.
This development underscores the CPC’s ongoing efforts to uphold strict discipline within its ranks and maintain the integrity of its leadership.
Reference(s):
CPC expels former Chinese Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu
cgtn.com
