Former Chinese Agriculture Minister Tang Renjian Sentenced to Death with Reprieve for $38M Bribery

Tang Renjian, China's former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve by a court in Jilin province for accepting bribes totaling over 268 million yuan during his tenure from 2007 to 2024. The Changchun Intermediate People's Court imposed the sentence but suspended it due to Tang's confession, remorse, and return of illicit earnings, which will be confiscated and transferred to the national treasury. Tang was expelled from the Communist Party in November 2024 following a swift investigation by the party's anti-graft watchdog, reflecting President Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign targeting high-level officials including former defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe. Prior to his ministerial role, Tang served as governor of Gansu Province from 2017 to 2020. President Xi has emphasized that corruption remains the biggest threat to the Communist Party, underscoring the continued crackdown on domestic security and government officials. Tang's case exemplifies the intensified efforts to ensure loyalty and integrity within China's political and security apparatus.