Tang Renjian, the former Minister of Agriculture in China, has received a death sentence following accusations of accepting bribes. The charges stem from his abuse of power while serving in government from 2007 to 2024. Tang is accused of facilitating projects, aiding businesses, and influencing job appointments in return for 268 million yuan (equivalent to roughly 315 crore rupees) in bribes. The Changchun City court ruled that Tang’s corruption inflicted substantial damage upon the country and its citizens, justifying the imposed penalty. However, leniency was considered due to his confession, remorse, and the restitution of the illegal funds. Tang benefits from a two-year reprieve, which means that if he demonstrates good behavior, the death sentence could be reduced to life imprisonment. In addition, the court has seized all of his personal possessions, and the bribe money has been deposited into government coffers. He is also prohibited from participating in politics for life. Since 2012, when Xi Jinping took office, a large-scale anti-corruption campaign has been underway. This campaign, known as “Catching Ants and Tigers,” extends from low-ranking officials to high-level leaders and military figures. To date, over 1 million government officials have been implicated in corruption. The campaign includes investigations involving village officials, ministers, and numerous high-ranking military officers, with actions taken against more than 100 senior army officers. The initiative seeks to purify the government and the Communist Party system, restore public trust, and eliminate corruption. Nevertheless, some observers suggest that this campaign is also utilized to remove political adversaries.
