Ex-China Agric Minister sentenced to death for bribery scandal

China’s former minister of agriculture, Tang Renjian, has been handed a death sentence with a two-year reprieve after being found guilty of large-scale corruption, a court in northeast Jilin province announced on Sunday.

According to the ruling from the People’s Court of Changchun, Tang received bribes in cash and property worth over 268 million yuan ($38 million) between 2007 and 2024.

The court declared that the bribes “caused particularly severe losses to the interests of the state and the people, and therefore warranted the death penalty,” noting that Tang admitted to the offences and expressed remorse.

His conviction comes amid President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-corruption drive, which has seen several senior officials fall from power. Supporters hail the campaign as a push for cleaner governance, while critics argue it gives Xi leverage to sideline political rivals.

Tang previously held top positions including governor of Gansu province and vice chairman of the Guangxi autonomous region.

His case follows graft probes into other high-profile figures, including former defence ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe. Li, removed after just seven months in office, was later expelled from the Communist Party for alleged bribery and other misconduct. His successor, Dong Jun, has also reportedly come under investigation.