Former Justice Minister Sentenced to Life in Prison for Corruption

1. On February 2, 2026, the Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court in Fujian sentenced Tang Yijun, the former Chinese Minister of Justice, to life imprisonment for accepting more than 137 million yuan ($19 million) in bribes. This sentencing signals the continuation of China’s vigorous anti-corruption campaign targeting high-ranking officials. All of Tang’s political rights were revoked for life, and his personal assets were confiscated, with all illicit gains and interest ordered to be handed over to the state treasury. [para. 1][para. 2]

2. Tang’s case is significant as he is the first senior official with a case exceeding 100 million yuan in corruption value to be sentenced in 2026, showing the sustained crackdown on both political and financial elites in China. Aside from Tang, five other centrally managed cadres have received first-instance sentences this year, but Tang stands out due to both his former high-profile role and the extent of his bribery. These other officials include Zhao Jinyun, Wang Hao, Chen Xiaobo, Zhang Gengsheng, and Zhang Xiaolian. [para. 2][para. 3]

3. Tang’s corrupt activities lasted for nearly 20 years, beginning in 2006 in Ningbo and continuing through his service as Minister of Justice until 2022. He used his official positions to secure illicit benefits for various companies and individuals. The illegal activities included facilitating corporate listings, land purchases, bank loans, and legal case settlements, for which he received bribes and property valued at over 137 million yuan. The court labeled the bribery amount as "particularly huge," but showed leniency as Tang admitted his crimes, volunteered additional previously undisclosed information, showed remorse, and returned the gains. [para. 4][para. 5]

4. Tang, now 64, pleaded guilty at his trial on September 11, 2025. His case is the latest in a series of scandals that have plagued China’s Ministry of Justice; past ministers and vice ministers, including Wu Aiying, Fu Zhenghua, Liu Zhiqiang, and Lu Enguang, have also come under investigation since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party. [para. 6]

5. Tang’s career followed a typical path of post-Mao meritocracy, beginning as a “sent-down youth” and rising through various party positions in Zhejiang province, eventually becoming Secretary-General in Zhoushan and holding posts in Ningbo for 12 years. After the 18th Party Congress, he quickly rose to more prominent roles, including acting mayor, municipal party secretary, and provincial standing committee member in Ningbo, moving on to become Governor of Liaoning in 2017. [para. 7][para. 8]

6. In April 2020, Tang became Minister of Justice, overseeing significant ministry restructuring, and continued illicit activities even after transitioning to a top advisory post in Jiangxi province in 2023. His investigation was announced in April 2024, followed by his expulsion from both the Communist Party and official positions in October 2024. [para. 9]

7. The investigation revealed a “family corruption” mechanism: Tang’s wife, Xuan Minjie, operated a network of shadow companies, funneling bribes via proxies and complex financial structures. These details were publicized in a 2025 anti-corruption documentary. Xuan’s activities included making large profits from business deals engineered by Tang’s political leverage, including a case where she received 5 million yuan without capital investment. [para. 10][para. 11][para. 12][para. 13]

8. Xuan avoided direct ownership by using proxies in business registrations. This strategy was uncovered after the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) analyzed over 10 million data records, ultimately tracing the intricate network back to Xuan as the main beneficiary. [para. 14]

9. Tang and Xuan also used venture capital as a cover for bribery, where Xuan would gain stakes in promising companies assisted by Tang’s influence and then profit from their successful listings. Another scheme involved overvalued investments, where business owners provided inflated capital to Xuan’s firms in exchange for Tang’s official support. [para. 15][para. 16]

10. The Tang case highlights intensified state scrutiny on the families of officials. In 2022, new Communist Party regulations mandated officials to report business dealings of family members and banned indirect or shadow investments, targeting the “family corruption” tactics used by Tang. This case is now seen as a warning and precedent for future anti-corruption enforcement. [para. 17]