Nine men were suspected of serious financial crimes, a statement released by China's defence ministry said. Most of them were three-star generals and part of the party's decision-making Central Committee. They have also been expelled from the military. While the statement cast the expulsion as part of an anti-corruption drive, analysts say it could also be seen as a political purge. It comes on the eve of the party's plenum where the Central Committee will discuss the country's economic development plan and vote in new members.

The nine officials are:
He Weidong - Vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)

Miao Hua - director of the CMC's political work department

He Hongjun - executive deputy director of the CMC's political work department

Wang Xiubin - executive deputy director of the CMC's joint operations command centre

Lin Xiangyang - Eastern Theatre commander

Qin Shutong - the Army's political commissar

Yuan Huazhi - the Navy's political commissar

Wang Houbin - Rocket Forces commander

Wang Chunning - Armed Police Force commander

Of these nine, He Weidong was considered the most prominent as the second highest ranking official in China's military, after President Xi Jinping who is the chairman of the CMC. He Weidong was last seen in March, and his long absence from public view fuelled speculation that he was under investigation as part of a purge of the military's top brass. (BBC)