Former National Forestry and Grassland Administration Vice Minister Li Chunliang Sentenced to Life for Graft

On July 22, 2026, the Dezhou Intermediate People's Court of Shandong Province publicly sentenced Li Chunliang, former member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Minister of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (National Park Administration), for bribe-taking and influence-peddling bribery. Li was sentenced to life imprisonment for bribe-taking, deprived of political rights for life, and had all personal property confiscated. For influence-peddling bribery, he was sentenced to four years in prison and fined RMB 300,000. The combined sentence is life imprisonment, deprivation of political rights for life, and confiscation of all personal property. His criminal proceeds and their fruits will be recovered and turned over to the state treasury.

The court found that from the second half of 2002 to May 2022, Li Chunliang took advantage of his positions as division chief of Division Two of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee's Bureau of Cadres, deputy director and inspector of Bureau of Cadres, director of Bureau Four, and member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Minister of the State Forestry Administration and later the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (National Park Administration), as well as the convenience conditions arising from his authority and status, to assist others in business operations, project contracting, and job promotions. He illegally accepted property worth more than RMB 84.65 million.

From October 2023 to the end of December 2024, after leaving office, Li exploited the convenience conditions arising from his former positions as deputy director and inspector of Bureau of Cadres, director of Bureau Four, and member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Minister of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (National Park Administration). Through the acts of other state functionaries, he helped others with approval procedures and illegally accepted RMB 3.05 million.

The Dezhou Intermediate People's Court held that Li Chunliang's acts constitute the crimes of bribe-taking and influence-peddling bribery. The amounts were especially huge, causing especially grave losses to the interests of the state and the people. Both crimes deserved punishment under the law. Given that part of the bribe-taking was attempted, Li truthfully confessed after being brought into custody, voluntarily disclosed additional bribe-taking facts unknown to investigators and all influence-peddling bribery facts, the influence-peddling bribery constituted voluntary surrender, he showed remorse, actively returned the illegal gains, and all criminal proceeds and their fruits have been recovered, statutory and discretionary leniency factors apply. The court therefore imposed a lighter penalty for bribe-taking and a reduced penalty for influence-peddling bribery, resulting in the above judgment.

It is reported that the Dezhou Intermediate People's Court of Shandong Province publicly heard the case on April 29, 2026. During the trial, the procuratorial organ presented relevant evidence, which Li Chunliang and his defense counsel cross-examined. The prosecution and defense fully stated their opinions under the court's direction. Li Chunliang delivered a final statement and expressed remorse in court. More than 20 deputies to the people's congress, members of the political consultative conference, and members of the public attended the hearing.