A Chinese court has handed former agriculture minister Tang Renjian a death sentence with a two-year reprieve after finding him guilty of taking massive bribes.
According to a ruling by the People’s Court in Changchun, Jilin province, Tang accepted cash and assets worth more than 268 million yuan (around $38 million) between 2007 and 2024. The court said the scale of the corruption inflicted “especially serious damage on the interests of the state and its people,” justifying the severe punishment. It noted that Tang admitted his misconduct and showed remorse.
Tang’s conviction is part of President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti corruption crackdown, a campaign that has already toppled numerous senior officials. Supporters view the initiative as essential for clean governance, while critics suggest it also strengthens Xi’s control by sidelining political opponents.
Before becoming agriculture minister, Tang served as governor of Gansu province and as vice chairman in the Guangxi autonomous region.
His case follows similar probes into other top figures, including former defence chiefs Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe. Li was ousted only months into his term and later expelled from the Communist Party on allegations of bribery and other misconduct. Reports also indicate that his successor, Dong Jun, has come under investigation for corruption.
