Two senior Chinese military officials have been removed from their positions and expelled from the Communist Party following investigations into alleged corruption, abuse of authority and violations of party discipline.
The two officials had held senior positions within the Central Military Commission (CMC), China’s top military command body. Investigations into their conduct were announced in January, while their removal from the state CMC was formalised in late August.
The action is part of a broader anti-corruption and disciplinary campaign that has intensified across China’s political, government and military institutions in recent years. Numerous senior officials have faced investigations, disciplinary action and expulsion as part of the campaign.
The military has become a major focus of the crackdown, with a series of senior officers investigated or removed from their posts. The latest expulsions have further reduced the number of active members of the previously seven-member CMC.
Authorities accused the two former military leaders of violating political discipline, failing to uphold party principles and improperly supervising personnel and family members.
They were also accused of forming factions and cliques, showing disloyalty to the party, abusing their positions and engaging in corruption for personal gain.
The allegations reportedly included both political and economic misconduct, with authorities describing the suspected violations as serious and involving substantial sums of money.
While corruption investigations involving senior military officers have occurred previously, the inclusion of allegations concerning political disloyalty and faction-building has drawn particular attention. Such accusations could indicate concerns within the leadership over internal divisions and challenges to party authority.
One of the officials had previously served in the Communist Party’s top political leadership and was among a limited number of senior military officers with combat experience.
The latest action highlights the continued scrutiny of senior figures within China’s armed forces, including officials who previously held prominent positions and were considered influential within the military establishment.
The expulsions were formally approved at a high-level party meeting. The suspected criminal cases are expected to be transferred to military prosecutors for further examination and possible prosecution under Chinese law.
The development comes ahead of major political and diplomatic engagements, including planned high-level talks between Chinese and US leaders and an upcoming party meeting focused on internal governance and disciplinary matters.
