A Chinese court on Monday, February 2, 2026, sentenced Tang Yijun, former minister of justice, to life in prison for accepting $19.7 million in bribes and abusing his official positions over a span of 16 years.
The Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court found that Tang received illegal payments and gifts between 2006 and 2022, while holding a series of senior roles including justice minister, governor of Liaoning province, and party chief of Ningbo in Zhejiang province.
An open trial on September 11, 2025, revealed that Tang pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, which the court considered in determining his sentence.
In addition to the life term, Tang was deprived of all political rights for life, and his personal assets and illegal gains were ordered returned to the state treasury.
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Tang’s conviction comes amid President Xi Jinping’s extensive anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted numerous high-ranking officials since 2012.
The campaign is seen by supporters as a crackdown on graft, while critics view it as a tool for consolidating political power.