In China, two senior military officials have been placed under investigation for serious violations of the Communist Party’s discipline and the laws.  The Ministry of Defence today said in a statement that the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee approved investigations into General Zhang Youxia and General Liu Zhenli. General Zhang Youxia is the top-ranking vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the military’s highest command body led by President Xi Jinping.

General Liu Zhenli is also a CMC member and serves as chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department. The investigation was part of President Xi’s anti-corruption campaign launched after he came to power in 2012. State media say more than one million officials have been punished under the campaign, including two former defence ministers and dozens of senior military officers. Xi has previously said corruption is the greatest threat to the party.