China’s second-ranked military general has become the latest PLA top brass to fall from grace, with the defence ministry announcing that he was under investigation and had been dismissed from service and the party.

The CMC, chaired by President Xi Jinping, sits at the apex of China’s military command chain.

The sudden announcement comes less than three days before the party Central Committee meets for the fourth plenum to consolidate unity and discuss a crucial five-year plan in the face of all-out rivalry with the US.

Another eight generals were also under investigation for “serious violations of party discipline” and were similarly punished, ministry spokesman Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang said in a rare public disclosure.