9 top military generals dismissed over corruption allegations in China

Beijing: The Communist Party of China has expelled nine top generals from the party and the military over corruption allegations.

China's Ministry of Defense said in a statement that nine people, most of whom were senior generals and members of the party's decision-making Central Committee, are suspected of serious financial crimes.

According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, the official statement described the action as part of an anti-corruption campaign, but Western analysts also see it as a political move.

The top generals expelled from the army in China include He Weidong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Wang Hubin, commander of the Rocket Force. The action took place before the party convention, where the Central Committee will discuss the country's economic development plan and vote on new members.

He Weidong held the second-highest position in the Chinese army.

Weidong was last seen in March, and his long absence from public view has fueled speculation that he was under investigation as part of a crackdown on senior military officers.

The nine men had seriously violated party discipline and were facing other serious charges, including embezzlement of large sums of money, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.