China expels 2 top military leaders accused of corruption from the ruling Communist Party

China has removed two high-ranking military officials from the ruling Communist Party due to alleged corruption and disloyalty, according to state media. The expulsions affect Gen. Zhang Youxia, vice chair of the Central Military Commission, and Gen. Liu Zhenli, the chief of staff of the commission's Joint Staff Department. This move is part of an ongoing purge of military officials and a crackdown on corruption within the military hierarchy.

Both generals were accused of being "disloyal and dishonest to the Party" and abusing their power to promote others while accepting gifts and large sums of money improperly. Their actions "seriously violated political discipline and political rules," and they failed to supervise relatives and close staff members, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Their cases were referred to military prosecutors for further investigation. President Xi Jinping has emphasized the importance of a corruption-free military and unwavering loyalty to the Communist Party leadership.