Corruption is an extraordinary crime with systemic impacts on a nation’s political, economic, and social stability. Various countries adopt different penal approaches to combat corruption, including Indonesia and China. This study aims to analyze and compare the effectiveness of criminal penalties in addressing corruption in both countries. The research uses a normative-juridical and comparative approach by examining legislation, empirical data, and relevant case studies. In Indonesia, the implementation of criminal sanctions tends to be more moderate, with imprisonment and fines being the dominant forms of punishment. However, enforcement faces challenges such as weak institutional independence and political interference. In contrast, China enforces much harsher penalties, including life imprisonment and the death penalty, as part of its "zero tolerance" anti-corruption policy supported by centralized political power. The findings show that although China’s repressive approach appears more stringent, the success in curbing corruption is not solely determined by the severity of the punishment. Instead, it also depends on the consistency, transparency, and integrity of the legal enforcement system. This study recommends that Indonesia reform its criminal policy to be firmer while still upholding principles of human rights and justice.