China’s Communist Party expelled former defense minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe on Thursday for “serious violations of discipline,” a euphemism for corruption, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Li was suspected of receiving “huge sums of money” in bribes and bribing others. An investigation found he “did not fulfill political responsibilities” and “sought personnel benefits for himself and others,” the report said, citing the Communist Party’s Central Committee, which ordered the investigation.
“As a senior leading cadre of the party and the army, Li Shangfu betrayed his original mission, betrayed the trust of the Party Central Committee and Central Military Commission, and caused great damage to the party’s cause and national defence,” the report stated.
Reuters exclusively reported last year that Li was under investigation for suspected corruption in military procurement. He was mysteriously ousted as defence minister without explanation last October after disappearing for two months. This is the first time China has explicitly confirmed that Li was under investigation and provided details of his crimes.