China's second-highest ranking general and eight other senior officials were expelled from the ruling Communist Party and the military on suspicion of serious official misconduct linked to corruption, the Defense Ministry said Friday, October 17.

The ministry's spokesperson, Zhang Xiaogang, alleged in a statement that He Weidong, vice-chair of the powerful Central Military Commission, and the eight others under investigation had seriously violated the party's discipline and that their misconduct involved large sums of money.

He was the most senior military official to be targeted in the latest anti-graft drive against the Chinese military leadership so far. As he was also part of the 24-member Politburo in China, the impact of the announcement is likely to extend beyond the army.

He, wh

See Full Page