China's military court has handed down suspended death sentences to two former defense ministers, Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu, for corruption, marking a significant escalation in President Xi Jinping's ongoing purge of the armed forces. Both generals were convicted of bribery and initially received the death penalty with a two-year reprieve, which will be commuted to life imprisonment without parole after the reprieve period. Wei served as defense minister from 2018 to 2023, and Li succeeded him for less than eight months in 2023. Both were investigated in 2023 by the military’s anti-graft body. This action is part of Xi's broader campaign to consolidate power and modernize the People's Liberation Army, which has reportedly seen over 100 officers purged since 2022, affecting 52% of top leadership positions.