The Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership on Thursday decided to expel former Defense Ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu from the Party for serious violations of Party discipline and the law.

Wei and Li, who also formerly served as members of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and state councilors, were deprived of their qualification as delegates to the 20th CPC National Congress, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

The CMC's disciplinary and supervisory agency launched an investigation against Wei on September 21, 2023, and Li on August 31, 2023.

According to the investigation's results, Wei seriously violated political and organizational discipline by helping others gain improper benefits in personnel arrangements. He also seriously violated discipline regarding integrity, accepting money and gifts in violation of relevant rules.

Wei took advantage of his posts to seek benefits for others, accepting a huge amount of money and valuables in return, constituting the suspected crime of taking bribes.

The investigation also found clues about Wei's other violations.

As a high-ranking official of the Party and the military, Wei lost his faith and loyalty. His actions failed the trust of the Party Central Committee and the CMC and severely contaminated the political environment of the military, causing enormous damage to the Party's cause, the development of national defense and the armed forces, as well as the image of senior officials.

Wei's violations are extremely serious in nature, with a highly detrimental impact and tremendous harm, according to the investigation findings.

Li seriously violated political and organizational discipline, the probe found. He sought improper benefits in personnel arrangements for himself and others, took advantage of his posts to seek benefits for others and accepted a huge amount of money and valuables in return. He is suspected of the crime of taking bribes.

He was also found to have offered money to others to seek undue benefits, constituting the suspected crime of offering bribes.

The investigation also found clues of Li's other violations.

As a high-ranking official of the Party and the military, Li betrayed the Party's original aspiration and principles. His actions failed the trust of the Party Central Committee and the CMC and severely contaminated the political environment of the military equipment sector and the ethics of relevant industries.

His disciplinary and law violations caused enormous damage to the Party's cause, the development of national defense and the armed forces, as well as the image of senior officials.

Li's violations are extremely serious in nature, with a highly detrimental impact and tremendous harm, according to the investigation findings.

The CPC Central Committee will confirm the disciplinary action to expel Li from the Party when it convenes a plenary session in mid-July.

The Political Bureau has transferred Wei's and Li's suspected criminal cases to the military's procuratorial organs for examination and prosecution.

An earlier decision made by the CMC had expelled Wei and Li from the military service and deprived them of their ranks of general.

(With input from Xinhua)