In a stark demonstration of China’s uncompromising stance on corruption, a Chinese court has sentenced Han Yong, a former senior political adviser, to death with a two-year reprieve after finding him guilty of accepting more than $36 million in bribes. The sentencing marks the second time this month that a prominent Chinese figure has received the death penalty for corruption-related crimes, underlining the growing severity of President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign.

Han Yong, 68, was convicted of accepting bribes totaling 261 million yuan (approximately $36.2 million) over a period spanning three decades, from 1993 to 2023. The ruling, delivered by the Nanning Intermediate People’s Court, found that Han exploited his political power across multiple provinces to benefit companies and individuals in exchange for financial gain. The court noted that Han used his influential roles in the provinces of Jilin, Xinjiang, and Shaanxi to assist with business operations, project tenders, and personnel appointments.

The sentence includes a two-year reprieve, meaning that Han will not be executed immediately. Under Chinese law, if a prisoner sentenced to death with reprieve demonstrates good behavior and refrains from committing further crimes during the two-year suspension period, the sentence is usually commuted to life imprisonment. However, the reprieve does not suggest leniency. Han’s punishment also includes a lifetime deprivation of political rights and the confiscation of all personal assets. The bribes he received in various forms, including real estate and other valuable assets, have been turned over to the state treasury.

Han’s sentencing follows the May 15 conviction of Zhao Weiguo, the former........

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