The Chinese Communist Party has named a veteran who has overseen anti-corruption efforts in the military to be the country’s second-highest-ranking general, just days after nine generals were expelled in a major purge. The appointment of Zhang Shengmin as second-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission was announced at the end of a four-day Central Committee meeting.

 

 

Zhang becomes the third-highest official in the country’s top military body, after the first-ranked vice chairman and President Xi Jinping. The nine expelled generals were suspected of serious financial crimes, China’s defence ministry said last week. However, analysts said it could also be seen as a political purge. Their removal marked one of the Chinese Communist Party’s largest public crackdowns on the military in decades. Following his promotion, Zhang, 67, will serve with another more senior vice chair, Zhang Youxia, on the Central Military Commission.