A top retired general has confessed to taking bribes , becoming the highest-profile figure in China 's military to be caught up in President Xi Jinping 's war on corruption . Xu Caihou , formerly the vice chairman of China 's Central Military Commission that runs the two-million strong People 's Liberation Army ( PLA ) , was also expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and had his rank of general revoked , according to a statement from military prosecutors cited by the state-run Xinhua news agency Wednesday . The seven-month investigation , which began in March this year , found that Xu took advantage of his position to assist the promotion of other people , accepting huge bribes personally and through his family . He was also found to have sought profits for others in exchange for bribes taken through his family members . The amount of bribe was `` extremely huge '' , the statement added . The allegations against Xu , 71 , were announced on June 30 when President Xi presided over a leadership meeting to expel the retired general and three other senior members from the ruling Communist Party . Zero tolerance . In a statement released after that meeting , President Xi and other Chinese leaders reiterated their `` zero tolerance '' for corruption in the government and military -- long a lightning rod for mass discontent across the country -- but they also acknowledged the anti-graft task would be `` ongoing , complex and formidable . '' The three other former senior officials ousted from the Communist Party for corruption were Jiang Jiemin , a former minister in charge of state assets ; Li Dongsheng , a former vice minister of public security ; and Wang Yongchun , a former deputy head of state-owned oil behemoth China National Petroleum Corporation . State media characterized Xu as a big `` military tiger '' caught in the massive anti-graft campaign launched by President Xi , who is also the commander-in-chief . After becoming the head of the Communist Party in late 2012 , Xi banned official extravagance -- from banquets to year-end gifts -- and vowed to target `` tigers and flies '' alike in his fight against corruption when describing his resolve to spare no one regardless of their position . OPINION : China corruption charges no longer shock . Xinhua recently touted the catching of 30 `` tigers '' since Xi took power less than two years ago . Zhou Yongkang . Some China watchers have noted ties between an increasing number of disgraced officials to Zhou Yongkang , the former domestic security czar who has been rumored to be under investigation for some time . Jiang , Li and Wang have long been considered Zhou protégés . State media has reported official probes into many of Zhou 's family members as well as former associates in the domestic security apparatus , state oil industry and southwestern Sichuan Province -- three places Zhou once ruled . If announced , Zhou would become the highest-ranking official ever to face corruption charges in the history of the People 's Republic . In 2013 , some 182,000 officials were disciplined while courts nationwide tried 23,000 corruption cases , according to the Communist Party 's disciplinary commission . State media has cited the trial and conviction last year of former high-flying politician Bo Xilai -- though called politically motivated by Bo supporters -- as one prime example of President Xi 's determination to clean up the Party .
Xu was a former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission . Statement : He took advantage of his position to commit corruption and accept bribes . Xu is the most senior military leader to face corruption charges in recent years . Was one of the senior members to be expelled from the Chinese Communist Party .