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A Chinese court on Monday, February 2, sentenced former justice minister Tang Yijun to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of accepting nearly $20 million in bribes over more than a decade.
Tang, 64, served as China’s justice minister from 2020 to 2023 and previously held senior positions, including governor of Liaoning province and Communist Party chief of Ningbo city.
According to the Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court in eastern China, Tang abused his authority between 2006 and 2022 to secure benefits for individuals and companies. In exchange for payments, he allegedly assisted with matters such as initial public offerings, bank loan approvals, land acquisitions, and other business interests.
The court said Tang received bribes totaling 137 million yuan (around $19.7 million), describing the sum as “particularly high” and noting that his actions caused “extremely serious damage” to the interests of the state and the public.
Despite the severity of the crimes, the court acknowledged mitigating factors, including Tang’s confession after his arrest, his guilty plea, expression of remorse, and cooperation with investigators.
Tang’s conviction comes amid China’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign, led by President Xi Jinping since 2012. The campaign has prosecuted numerous high-ranking officials, though critics argue it has also been used to sideline potential political rivals.
Tang is the latest former justice minister to be convicted. In 2022, Fu Zhenghua was found guilty of corruption and initially sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, later commuted to life imprisonment.
Last month, Chinese authorities also announced an anti-corruption investigation into Zhang Youxia, one of the country’s most powerful generals, marking the highest-ranking military figure targeted in decades.
