The unprecedented move against Wei Fenghe and his successor Li Shangfu followed a meeting of the party's 24-man Politburo, the highest political body of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, state news agency Xinhua reported. The announcement came on the heels of the abrupt dismissal of Li, Beijing's shortest-serving defense minister.

Li was fired in October, just seven months after he became defense minister. He mysteriously disappeared at the end of August without explanation and was stripped of his titles as state councilor, an odd move because officials from the CCP's inner circle are rarely, if ever, removed. Wei held the post from 2018 to 2023 and, similar to Li, was accused of accepting bribes. Both were expelled by the party's leadership for serious violation of party discipline and the law.

Beijing's ruling Communist Party headed by President Xi Jinping on Thursday expelled the former Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu for alleged corruption and launched prosecution proceedings against him. The Communist Party of China (CPC) leadership decided to expel Li, 66, for serious violation of Party discipline and the law. Little is known about the whereabouts of Li and Wei, with reports suggesting both men will face criminal prosecution.

It is the first time in the history of the People's Liberation Army that corruption investigations into two defense ministers have been made public on the same day. Their ousting follows a military purge as tensions between the United States and China continue to simmer over President Xi Jinping's attempts at a power grab as well as escalations in the South China Sea and over the fate of Taiwan. Xi has promised a corruption crackdown, indicating no hiding place for corrupt elements in the army.

In August, Xi announced a major shake-up of the country's nuclear and missile arsenal, replacing two top generals. Four months later, he ousted nine senior military officers from the national legislative body. Last July, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, once believed to be a protege of Xi, was removed from his post after he disappeared from public view for a month and was stripped of his title in October.

China's ruling Communist Party on Thursday expelled ex-Defense Minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor over corruption charges. Li's removal from the party came 10 months after he disappeared from public view, reportedly under investigation in connection with the procurement of military equipment. He was sacked without a replacement in October, amid a series of sudden firings and disappearances. Li seriously violated political and organizational discipline, took advantage of his posts to seek benefits for others, and accepted a huge amount of money and valuables. Wei's alleged misdeeds similarly contaminated the political environment of the military, causing enormous damage to the Party's cause.

The expulsion of Li and Wei came almost a year after Communist Party chief Xi Jinping fired two top generals of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, which controls the country's nuclear missiles. In the dozen years since Xi Jinping came to power, his wide-ranging anti-corruption campaign has targeted party, state, and PLA officials. Nine senior officers and at least four defense industry executives have been sacked so far.

China's former Defense Minister Li Shangfu was expelled from the ruling Communist Party and accused of corruption, likely setting up a trial that could lead to him receiving a life prison sentence. The Defense Ministry said Li had abused his authority to enrich himself by taking bribes and granting favors in violation of military and party discipline. Such charges have been leveled in past by numerous military leaders under President Xi Jinping, who has made a crackdown on corruption a hallmark of his rule since taking power. Li dropped out of sight for almost two months last year before being removed from office, amid allegations of a widespread purge of officers suspected of conspiring with outside forces or being insufficiently loyal to Xi.

Conclusively, the removal of these high-ranking officials reflects the growing intensity of Xi Jinping's internal anti-corruption campaign, aimed at strengthening his grip over the party and the military. The recent events may well impact the balance of power within the Communist Party, the military, and China's overall political landscape, while signaling Xi's resolve to eliminate any challenges to his authority from within the ranks.