China Sentences Former Agriculture Minister Tang Renjian to Death with Two-Year Reprieve for Massive Bribery

China’s Former Agriculture Minister Tang Renjian Sentenced to Death with Two-Year Reprieve

Beijing, 28 September 2025 – In a landmark anti-corruption ruling, a Chinese court has sentenced Tang Renjian, the country’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, to death with a two-year reprieve for accepting massive bribes. The verdict, announced by the Changchun Intermediate People’s Court in Jilin Province, is the latest high-profile case in President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-graft campaign.

According to the court’s official statement, Tang admitted to taking 268 million yuan (about US $37.6 million) in cash, real estate, and other valuables between 2007 and 2024 while holding a series of senior government posts. Judges ruled that the scale of his crimes severely undermined public trust and damaged state interests.

The death sentence carries a two-year suspension, meaning that if Tang demonstrates good behavior during this period, the punishment will automatically be commuted to life imprisonment. The court also ordered the confiscation of all personal assets and permanent revocation of Tang’s political rights.

Tang’s downfall began in November 2024, when the Chinese Communist Party expelled him from its ranks following an internal investigation. He previously served as Governor of Gansu Province (2017–2020) before being promoted to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, a role he held until corruption allegations surfaced.

State media highlighted that Tang cooperated with investigators and confessed to the charges, factors that allowed the court to grant the two-year reprieve rather than immediate execution. Nevertheless, the judgment emphasized that the “enormous amount and egregious nature” of the bribery required the country’s harshest penalty.

President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive, now in its second decade, has brought down hundreds of senior officials across China’s government, military, and state-owned enterprises. Analysts say Tang’s conviction sends a powerful message that no official is immune from accountability, even at the highest levels of government.

International observers note that the case underscores both the strength and the opacity of China’s legal system. While the government portrays such prosecutions as essential to public trust, critics argue that the process often lacks transparency and can serve political objectives.

Tang’s sentencing is already drawing global attention, reinforcing Beijing’s stated goal of maintaining “zero tolerance” for corruption while reminding officials and business leaders alike that China’s anti-graft campaign shows no sign of easing.