Tang Renjian, – Foto: Reprodução/Ministério da Agricultura da China
The Intermediate People’s Court of Changchun, in Jilin Province, China, sentenced Tang Renjian, former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, to a suspended death penalty for two years for corruption. The ruling was issued on Sunday, September 28, 2025, after the defendant admitted the facts during a trial in July. The case is part of the anti-corruption campaign launched by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2012, aimed at punishing disciplinary violations among top government officials.
Tang held the ministerial position from 2020 to 2024 and previously served as governor of Gansu. Authorities determined that he used public positions to favor third parties in business and tenders, receiving bribes equivalent to 268 million yuan, or about $40 million. The sentence includes the confiscation of personal assets and full recovery of illicit gains for the national treasury.
The verdict highlighted damage to state and public interests, justifying the severity of the punishment. Tang expressed remorse and does not intend to appeal, according to official court records.
- Full confession of acts during the hearing on July 25, 2025;
- Cooperation in returning illegally obtained assets and funds;
- No new offenses during the suspension period, which may convert the penalty to life imprisonment.
Details of the imposed sentence
The Changchun Court specified that Tang Renjian accepted bribes in cash and properties between 2007 and 2024. These favors involved approvals in agricultural projects and personnel selections.
The two-year suspension of execution depends on proper conduct in detention. If fulfilled, the penalty converts to life imprisonment, a common practice in similar cases in the Chinese penal system.
The convicted individual’s personal assets were fully confiscated. Illicit gains, plus interest, are returned to the state to address losses in rural sectors.
Tang Renjian’s career path
Tang began his career in the Ministry of Agriculture in the 1980s. He graduated in 1983 from the Southwest University of Finance and Economics and rose to executive positions.
From 2017 to 2020, he governed Gansu province, managing rural development policies. In December 2020, he assumed the national ministry, focusing on grain production and subsidies.
Investigations started in May 2024 for disciplinary violations. In November, he was expelled from the Communist Party of China for suspected bribery.
His trajectory reflects patterns of internal promotion within the party, emphasizing regional administrative experience.
Context of the anti-corruption campaign
Xi Jinping’s initiative has launched investigations across all government levels since 2012. Over one million officials have faced punishments by 2025, including generals and provincial leaders.
Disciplinary bodies centralized actions in party committees. The campaign recovered trillions of yuan in state assets, targeting sectors like defense and agriculture.
Recent cases involve rural subsidy directors and state-owned enterprise executives. Xi prioritized loyalty in structures like police and judiciary since 2020.
Recent dismissals in key ministries
Three ministers were removed since July 2023. Qin Gang, from Foreign Affairs, was dismissed after seven months in office, absent from public appearances for a period.
Li Shangfu, from Defense, faced corruption charges and party expulsion. His removal occurred without initial accusations, followed by a formal investigation.
Tang Renjian raises the total to three in under two years. These episodes occurred in sensitive portfolios like foreign affairs and security.
The dismissals aim to strengthen internal control. Authorities highlighted inefficiencies in decisions and moral corruption in affected bodies.
Asset recovery measures
Values misappropriated by Tang total 268 million yuan. Protocols include audits in impacted projects, such as genetically modified corn cultivation.
Annual recoveries amount to billions of yuan to the treasury. Additional measures track dispersed assets via cooperation between courts and disciplinary commissions.
The process follows standards since 2012, with full restitution plus interest. The agricultural sector received extra inspections to prevent recurrences.
Tang collaborated in identifying assets. The court applied total confiscation, transferring resources to national accounts.
Scale of disciplinary punishments
The campaign reached one million cases by 2025. Punishments range from warnings to suspended death penalties.
The rural sector records cases of regional governors and fund directors. The initiative emphasizes full coverage, with no immune zones.
Xi identified corruption as the main threat to the party in January 2025. Bodies like inspection commissions implement integrated approaches.
Tang represents a prominent target in the ministry. His conviction adds to a history of actions against violations in agricultural supply chains.
