SHENZHEN, China – In an example of China’s ongoing anti-corruption crackdown, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on Sunday, September 28, 2025, for accepting bribes totaling over 268 million yuan (approximately $37.6 million), state news agency Xinhua reported.
The Changchun Intermediate People’s Court in Jilin Province handed down the verdict, suspending the death sentence for two years due to Tang’s confession and cooperation with authorities. Under Chinese law, such reprieves allow for potential commutation to life imprisonment if the individual demonstrates good behavior during the suspension period. The court emphasized that Tang’s actions caused “severe damage to the state and national interests,” highlighting the gravity of the corruption spanning nearly two decades.
Tang, 65, amassed the illicit gains—including cash and property—while holding various government posts from 2007 to 2024. His career trajectory included serving as governor of the western province of Gansu from 2017 to 2020, before ascending to the ministerial role in Beijing in 2020. He was removed from his post in May 2024 amid an investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, China’s top anti-graft body, and formally expelled from the Communist Party in November 2024 for “serious violations of discipline and law.”
The case underscores President Xi Jinping’s relentless campaign against corruption, which has ensnared numerous high-ranking officials since 2012. Legal observers note that while death sentences for economic crimes are rare, they serve as a deterrent, with reprieves often granted to those who fully confess and return assets. Tang’s trial, conducted behind closed doors, did not immediately reveal further details on the specific projects or individuals involved in the bribery scheme.
As the two-year reprieve begins, Tang remains in custody, with the possibility of execution only if he commits further offenses. This ruling adds to a string of high-profile convictions, fueling debates on the balance between deterrence and judicial mercy in China’s legal system. Further developments will be monitored as the suspension period unfolds.