China’s top political advisory body removes three generals amid a widening anti-corruption campaign targeting military officials ahead of key political meetings.

BEIJING: China’s top political advisory body has voted to remove three retired generals from its ranks. The move is part of a widening anti-corruption purge within the military ahead of the annual Two Sessions political gatherings.

State media Xinhua reported the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) voted to oust generals Han Weiguo, Liu Lei and Gao Jin. The CPPCC also removed two other members and officially ousted 10 more.

This follows last week’s removal of nine military officials from the national legislature. The National People’s Congress ousted 19 of its delegates, though reasons for the removals were not specified.

The purge intensified days before the concurrent meetings of the NPC and CPPCC. These key political conclaves bring thousands of delegates to Beijing.

President Xi Jinping has led a massive, long-running drive to root out graft. The campaign has increasingly targeted the military in recent years.

Xi publicly hailed the military’s “fight against corruption” last month. This rare acknowledgement came weeks after Beijing probed its top general.

In January, the defence ministry announced investigations into Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Zhang is a vice chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission.

The recent ousters also included Wang Xiangxi, removed as emergency management minister after a probe. Liu Shaoyun was removed as head of the PLA’s military court.

 The Sun Malaysia