Former head of Chinese state-owned phone company receives 16-year sentence for corruption

Li, who previously served as the general manager of China Unicom, was found guilty of accepting bribes and abusing his authority. The verdict, handed down by the Intermediate People’s Court in Qingdao, follows a lengthy investigation initiated by the ruling Communist Party’s disciplinary body over a year ago. Alongside the prison sentence, Li was fined 6 million yuan (approximately $831,000) and ordered to return the 45 million yuan ($6.2 million) he received in bribes, along with interest.

While the court acknowledged the severity of Li’s offenses, it also noted his cooperation in the investigation, confession, and display of remorse, factors that contributed to a somewhat lenient sentence. In cases where defendants confess and cooperate, Chinese law permits sentence reductions ranging from 20% to 50%.

China Unicom, a major telecommunications conglomerate offering mobile, fixed-line internet, and digital TV services, operates on a vast scale, reporting substantial profits and revenue in recent years. Last year, it recorded a record-high profit of 22.9 billion yuan ($3.1 billion) on revenue totaling 372.6 billion yuan ($51.6 billion).

Li’s sentencing underscores the ongoing vigor of President Xi’s anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted thousands of officials and executives across state-owned enterprises. While the campaign enjoys public support, it has also served as a means for Xi to consolidate power and sideline potential political rivals, signaling no signs of abating in the foreseeable future.