FILE PHOTO: Zhang Youxia (front), newly-elected Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China, swears an oath with members of the Central Military Commission (L-R) Zhang Shengmin, Liu Zhenli, He Weidong, Li Shangfu, and Miao Hua, after they were elected during the fourth plenary session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China on March 11, 2023. GREG BAKER/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong attends the opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 5, 2025. REUTERS/Florence Lo
FILE PHOTO: Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong walks by Chinese President Xi Jinping as he arrives for a ceremony to commemorate Martyrs' Day, on the eve of the 75th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China, on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China September 30, 2024. REUTERS/Florence Lo/File Photo

(Corrects He Weidong's age to 68, not 67)

BEIJING (Reuters) -Two top Chinese generals have been expelled from the ruling Communist Party and the military for "serious violations of discipline and law", the country's defence ministry said on Friday.

He Weidong, China's number two general, and Miao Hua, the Chinese army's top political officer, are the most senior military officials to be purged as part of an anti-corruption campaign that has targeted the People's Liberation Army leadership since 2023.

He's removal is the first of a sitting general on the Central Military Commission since the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution. He has not been seen in public since March but the investigation of his activities had not previously been disclosed by Chinese authorities.

He, Miao and seven other senior military officials named in the announcement "seriously violated Party discipline and are suspected of serious duty-related crimes involving an extremely large amount of money", defence ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said.

Their offences were "of a grave nature, with extremely detrimental consequences", the statement added.

The expulsion of He, 68, has implications beyond the military, as he also sat on the 24-member Politburo, the ruling Communist Party's second-highest echelon of power.

One of two vice-chairmen of the commission, the general is the third-most powerful commander of the People's Liberation Army and has been considered a close associate of President Xi Jinping, the army's commander-in-chief.

The announcement came just days before the Communist Party's Central Committee, an elite body of 200-plus senior officials, is due to hold its Fourth Plenum in Beijing. More personnel decisions, such as the expulsion of Central Committee members, are expected to be formalised at the meeting.

Miao was removed from the Central Military Commission in June after being put under investigation for "serious violations of discipline" last November.

(Reporting by Laurie ChenEditing by Gareth Jones)