Former Chinese Agric Minister Sentenced to Death Over Corruption

September 30, 2025

Tang Renjian, China's former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, has been handed a suspended death sentence after being convicted of accepting bribes worth over 268 million yuan during his 17-year career in government positions.

The Changchun Intermediate People's Court in Jilin province sentenced Tang on Sunday, suspending his death penalty for two years after he confessed to the crimes, according to state-run news agency Xinhua.

The court noted that Tang's confession played a role in the decision to suspend the death sentence. Under Chinese law, death sentences with reprieve are typically commuted to life imprisonment if the convict shows good behavior during the suspension period.

Tang's downfall was remarkably swift. The Communist Party expelled him in November 2024, just six months after he was placed under investigation by China's anti-corruption watchdog and removed from his ministerial position.

Tang's case is part of a broader anti-corruption drive under President Xi Jinping, who launched extensive purges of China's domestic security apparatus in 2020. The campaign aims to ensure officials are "absolutely loyal, absolutely pure and absolutely reliable."

The investigation into Tang followed similar probes into defense minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe, demonstrating the campaign's reach across different government sectors.

Before his appointment as agriculture minister, Tang served as governor of the western province of Gansu from 2017 to 2020. His political career spanned multiple high-ranking positions across nearly two decades.

"Corruption is the biggest threat to China's Communist Party and remains on the rise."

— President Xi Jinping, January 2025

In January this year, President Xi emphasized that corruption remains one of the most significant threats facing the Communist Party, signaling that the anti-graft campaign is far from over.

The agriculture sector plays a crucial role in China's economy and food security, making Tang's position particularly sensitive. His conviction sends a strong message about accountability at the highest levels of government.

Death sentences with reprieve have become increasingly common in high-profile corruption cases in China, offering a severe punishment while allowing for potential commutation based on the convict's behavior during incarceration.