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Wei Fenghe

The latest news and top stories on Wei Fenghe. A retired general, he served as China's State Councillor and Minister of National Defence from 2018 to 2023, having previously commanded the PLA Rocket Force, overseeing China's nuclear arsenal. His career highlights include military diplomacy and a strong stance on national sovereignty. Recently, he was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and stripped of his general rank following an investigation for corruption, including accepting bribes and seeking improper benefits. Accusations also suggest "betraying loyalty," implying potential compromise by a hostile force. His case has been transferred for criminal prosecution.

Zhang Jianhua, a senior official with the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, has been jailed for corruption for 10 years. Photo: Handout

Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign

China jails retired defence tech overseer for 10 years in US$6.3m corruption case

Zhang Jianhua used his influence in and out of office to help third parties with approvals and investment.

5 Aug 2026 - 9:48PMvideocam

Central Military Commission

Top PLA graft-buster urges more loyalty, ‘political rectification’

17 Jun 2026 - 5:23PM

China’s Communist Party

China’s top military officials face ‘ironclad’ rules in anti-corruption fight

28 May 2026 - 8:23PMvideocam

Mainland China

Editorial | Suspended sentences reaffirm that no one is immune from China’s anti-graft drive

China needs a powerful military force to defend national interests at home and abroad. Tolerance of corruption is incompatible with that goal.

10 May 2026 - 6:45AM

Former Chinese defence ministers Li Shangfu (left) and Wei Fenghe were sentenced on Thursday after being found guilty of corruption. Photo composite: AP and Reuters

Corruption in China

Fate of China’s ex-defence heads shows party won’t allow disloyalty: state media

Editorial from Chinese military’s official newspaper marks the first time that Li Shangfu has been labelled a traitor.

9 May 2026 - 9:27AMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

Shanghai’s expat population, Hong Kong trail sign fallout: 7 highlights

From the South Korean judge’s death to China debuting naval drone tech, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

8 May 2026 - 12:12PM

Corruption in China

2 former Chinese defence ministers handed suspended death sentences

Sentences for Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu are the most severe for senior military officers since anti-corruption campaign began in 2012.

8 May 2026 - 12:33PMvideocam

China's military weapons

China’s nuclear warhead storage a ‘highly concentrated risk’, US report says

Much of the stockpile is stored at one facility in the country’s northwest that’s accessible only by a narrow road, according to think tank.

12 Mar 2026 - 9:30PM

China’s Communist Party

Top PLA Air Force duo miss key military event led by Xi as graft fight rolls on

Generals Chang Dingqiu and Guo Puxiao were not present at PLA promotions ceremony on Monday, footage broadcast by CCTV shows.

24 Dec 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

Mainland China

Xi promotes PLA commanders overseeing Taiwan Strait, Beijing to full general

Announcements suggest the dust has begun to settle following a massive purge in the military over corruption concerns.

22 Dec 2025 - 10:43PMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping (front row, second from left), who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other leaders pose for a photo with the promoted military officers in Beijing on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

China's military weapons

Why China’s rapid military build-up is ‘hardly the whole story’

The PLA has been moving fast to modernise its arsenal and warfare strategy, but it’s seen as ‘seriously deficient’ in some areas.

18 Dec 2025 - 6:03AM

China’s fourth plenum

How Xi’s ongoing battle against PLA corruption shapes China’s military future

The fight against graft in the armed forces is set to become one of the national priorities for the next five years.

14 Nov 2025 - 9:54AMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

PLA mouthpiece puts focus on ‘political rectification’ after generals purged

PLA Daily calls for vigilance, contemplation of the dangers of ‘greed’ and for stability amid the ‘raging waves of temptation’.

27 Oct 2025 - 8:00PMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

Zhang Shengmin promoted to vice-chair of China’s Central Military Commission

Communique of fourth plenary session of Central Committee declares Zhang Fengzhong, of the PLA Rocket Force, is under a corruption probe.

23 Oct 2025 - 10:11PMvideocam

China has promoted Zhang Shengmin, the military’s anti-graft chief, to vice-chair of the powerful Central Military Commission. Photo: Handout

Corruption in China

Sacked Chinese generals ‘disloyal’, dealt ‘serious blow’ to military: PLA Daily

Editorial’s scathing criticism of senior officers echoes language used when former defence chief Wei Fenghe was sacked last year.

23 Oct 2025 - 9:24AMvideocam

He Weidong, then vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and member of the Politburo, attends the opening session of the National People’s Congress on March 5. Photo: AP

China's military weapons

Why were China’s generals missing in action during the Victory Day parade?

The senior military officials have had prominent roles in such events in 2019 and 2015, helping to put names to faces.

17 Sep 2025 - 9:00AMvideocam

China’s Communist Party

PLA Daily outlines corruption clean-up checklist for political officers

Front-page commentary series stressing honesty and integrity in promotions follows new guidelines issued by top military body.

26 Jul 2025 - 4:00PMvideocam

Central Military Commission

China’s military announces new political guidelines after corruption scandals

The rules follow a series of scandals that have seen a dozen senior PLA commanders being placed under investigation.

21 Jul 2025 - 9:41PMvideocam

The new guidelines follow a series of military corruption scandals. Photo: Handout

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Wei Fenghe

China jails retired defence tech overseer for 10 years in US$6.3m corruption case

Zhang Jianhua used his influence in and out of office to help third parties with approvals and investment.

Top PLA graft-buster urges more loyalty, ‘political rectification’

China’s top military officials face ‘ironclad’ rules in anti-corruption fight

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Editorial | Suspended sentences reaffirm that no one is immune from China’s anti-graft drive

China needs a powerful military force to defend national interests at home and abroad. Tolerance of corruption is incompatible with that goal.

Fate of China’s ex-defence heads shows party won’t allow disloyalty: state media

Editorial from Chinese military’s official newspaper marks the first time that Li Shangfu has been labelled a traitor.

Shanghai’s expat population, Hong Kong trail sign fallout: 7 highlights

From the South Korean judge’s death to China debuting naval drone tech, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

2 former Chinese defence ministers handed suspended death sentences

Sentences for Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu are the most severe for senior military officers since anti-corruption campaign began in 2012.

China’s nuclear warhead storage a ‘highly concentrated risk’, US report says

Much of the stockpile is stored at one facility in the country’s northwest that’s accessible only by a narrow road, according to think tank.

Top PLA Air Force duo miss key military event led by Xi as graft fight rolls on

Generals Chang Dingqiu and Guo Puxiao were not present at PLA promotions ceremony on Monday, footage broadcast by CCTV shows.

Xi promotes PLA commanders overseeing Taiwan Strait, Beijing to full general

Announcements suggest the dust has begun to settle following a massive purge in the military over corruption concerns.

Why China’s rapid military build-up is ‘hardly the whole story’

The PLA has been moving fast to modernise its arsenal and warfare strategy, but it’s seen as ‘seriously deficient’ in some areas.

How Xi’s ongoing battle against PLA corruption shapes China’s military future

The fight against graft in the armed forces is set to become one of the national priorities for the next five years.

PLA mouthpiece puts focus on ‘political rectification’ after generals purged

PLA Daily calls for vigilance, contemplation of the dangers of ‘greed’ and for stability amid the ‘raging waves of temptation’.

Zhang Shengmin promoted to vice-chair of China’s Central Military Commission

Communique of fourth plenary session of Central Committee declares Zhang Fengzhong, of the PLA Rocket Force, is under a corruption probe.

Sacked Chinese generals ‘disloyal’, dealt ‘serious blow’ to military: PLA Daily

Editorial’s scathing criticism of senior officers echoes language used when former defence chief Wei Fenghe was sacked last year.

Why were China’s generals missing in action during the Victory Day parade?

The senior military officials have had prominent roles in such events in 2019 and 2015, helping to put names to faces.

PLA Daily outlines corruption clean-up checklist for political officers

Front-page commentary series stressing honesty and integrity in promotions follows new guidelines issued by top military body.

China’s military announces new political guidelines after corruption scandals

The rules follow a series of scandals that have seen a dozen senior PLA commanders being placed under investigation.

Editorial | Suspended sentences reaffirm that no one is immune from China’s anti-graft drive