China Ex-Agriculture Minister Sentenced to Death for $38M Bribery

In a major anti-corruption ruling, a Chinese court has sentenced Tang Renjian, the former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, to death with a two-year reprieve for accepting bribes totaling more than 268 million yuan (US$37.6 million).

The verdict, delivered by the Changchun Intermediate People’s Court in Jilin Province, found that Tang abused his positions of authority between 2007 and 2024. During his tenure in various high-ranking posts including governor of Gansu Province and later as agriculture minister Tang used his influence to benefit individuals and companies in areas such as business operations, project contracts, and personnel appointments. In return, he collected vast sums in cash and property.

As part of the ruling, Tang was stripped of all political rights for life, had his personal assets confiscated, and ordered to surrender all illicit gains to the state treasury.

Under Chinese law, a death sentence with a two-year reprieve means the execution is suspended. If the convicted person commits no further offenses during this period, the sentence is typically commuted to life imprisonment, sometimes with the possibility of further reductions for good behavior.

The court said mitigating factors were taken into account, including Tang’s confession, his cooperation with investigators by revealing additional bribes previously unknown, and his voluntary surrender of illegal assets.

Tang’s sentencing is the latest in President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign, which has seen hundreds of senior officials investigated and punished over the past decade. Chinese authorities have emphasized that the crackdown extends to all levels of power, including ministerial and provincial leadership.

The high-profile case underscores Beijing’s determination to curb graft within the Communist Party and state institutions, reinforcing a message that no official, regardless of rank, is immune from accountability.