China Sentences Former AVIC Chief to Death in Major Corruption Case

A Chinese court has sentenced Tan Ruisong, the former head of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), to death with a two-year reprieve for corruption, marking one of the most significant rulings in Beijing’s ongoing anti-graft campaign.

The court in Liaoning province found Tan guilty of embezzlement, bribery, insider trading, and leaking sensitive information, concluding that he had accepted more than 700 million yuan (over $100 million) in illicit gains during his decades-long career in the aerospace sector.

According to the ruling, Tan used his positions to facilitate corporate deals, project contracts, and other advantages in exchange for bribes. He was also found to have repeatedly disclosed insider information and encouraged illegal securities trading.

Tan had previously been expelled from the Communist Party in early 2025, with authorities accusing him of “living off the military sector” and abusing his influence within the defence industry.

The sentence forms part of a broader anti-corruption drive led by Xi Jinping, which has targeted senior military officials, defence executives, and political figures in recent years.

In addition to the death sentence with reprieve, the court ordered the confiscation of all of Tan’s personal assets and stripped him of political rights for life.

The case underscores Beijing’s intensified efforts to tighten control over its military-industrial complex and root out corruption at the highest levels.

Source: Newstimehub