Zhang Jianhua, a retired senior official who previously served as the deputy head of China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, was sentenced to 10 years in prison this week. The sentencing took place at the Dazhou Intermediate People’s Court in Sichuan province, as reported by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

According to court proceedings, Zhang was found guilty of accepting bribes totaling more than 43 million yuan, which is equivalent to roughly US$6.3 million. The case is being presented as part of a broader, long-running anti-corruption initiative aimed at the Chinese military and defense industrial sectors. While the court provided details regarding the financial scope of the corruption, the specific nature of the projects or contracts involved in the bribery scheme was not detailed in the initial reports. The sentencing reflects the government's continued focus on rooting out financial misconduct among high-ranking officials overseeing national defense technology.