China sentences former CEO of military aircraft manufacturer to death over $100m corruption

A Chinese court on Wednesday sentenced Tan Ruisong, the former chairperson of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), to death with a two-year reprieve for corruption, part of a wider campaign against graft in China's military-industrial complex.

The former aerospace defence executive was found guilty on charges of embezzlement, bribery, insider trading, and leaking insider information, a court in the country's northeastern province of Liaoning said on Wednesday.

Tan took in over 700 million yuan ($101.45 million) while holding various posts in the aerospace industry spanning three decades, the court's first-instance judgement showed.

'Lived off the military sector'

The statement said Tan pleaded "guilty and showed repentance."

Tan was expelled from the ruling Communist Party for corruption in February 2025. He "lived off the military sector" and took a huge amount in bribes, China's anti-graft watchdog said at the time.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched a years-long anti-corruption purge in the country's military, in which the nation's top generals, senior military officials, former defence ministers and industry elites have been ousted, probed, and prosecuted.

Last month, three Chinese lawmakers with ties to the defence sector were removed from their positions in the country's parliament. Tan's successor at AVIC, Zhou Xinmin, was ousted along with nuclear-weapons researcher Liu Cangli and Luo Qi, chief engineer of state-owned nuclear-power giant China National Nuclear Corp.

Personal property confiscated

AVIC produces most of China's military aircraft and drones.

Tan embezzled public funds and "took advantage of his positions... helping others in matters including corporate mergers and acquisitions and project contracting," according to the statement released by the court.

He also repeatedly leaked insider information and "induced others to engage in securities trading related to inside information," it said.

The court has decided to deprive Tan of political rights for life and to confiscate all of his personal property, the statement showed.